1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2025 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
CICW has awarded Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for over 20 years to teacher-scholars and worshiping communities in 45+ states and provinces and across 40+ denominations and traditions—including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Protestant communities.
While worship styles and practices vary greatly across these traditions, the grant projects typically explore at least one of CICW’s ten core convictions related to worship. Explore the hundreds of projects we’ve funded across both streams of the program.
To create intergenerational worship services by training youth to lead worship and adults to mentor the youth.
To collaborate with a local planning committee to establish a new LPM program, to develop a model for the establishment of local LPM programs in other areas and to explore new ways of enriching the training.
To explore the practice of hospitality in worship through study, workshops and monthly worship events that will invite adults and youth in the community to participate in worship.
To study scripture and create visual art that will find and express God's transforming love and create a venue for the entire congregation including families with young children to fully participate in worship.
To offer a series of Bible studies, workshops and discussions on the history of biblical worship and its theological foundations that will encourage the congregation to practice in worship what they have learned.
To form an intergenerational liturgical dance program that connects movement to scripture while strengthening an appreciation for the African church and its expressions in worship.
To involve congregants in small rural congregations in southern Oregon and northern California in an interdenominational, intergenerational process that explores relationships in worship and focuses on connecting them to daily life.
To support ecumenical peer learning cluster groups to consider how seminaries can form worship leaders.
To train worship leaders in opening worship to the leadership gifts of persons with disabilities through a conference and a year long process of learning with several congregations.
To form multigenerational, multicultural teams in which participants can explore how their gifts can be used in worship through music and the arts.
To explore the role of visual arts in making the Lord's Supper and Baptism more meaningful by giving attention to the church year in corporate worship and small group discussions.
To study and respond to the Psalms through prayer and jazz music in both corporate worship and small groups during the entire year.
