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 develop elements of worship that will foster communion with God and moments of transcendent experience for worshipers by focusing on sacred space, worship education, a midweek worship service, and creativity and arts in worship and music.
To engage members of various ethnic traditions to lead worship by identifying persons who are proficient in the arts, drama, music and writing for multicultural worship services and offering worship workshops, evening programs and retreats for both adults and children.
To provide an intensive training for liturgical leaders of the diverse minorities of the Catholic community through the Liturgical Institute of the Southwest.
To express Scripture through creative and artistic means by developing multigenerational ministry teams to engage in the telling and retelling of God’s story from one generation to another.
To equip lay people of rural and small town settings to preach, plan and lead worship services, and to develop coaches/mentors for further support.
To integrate children into planning, leading, and participating in worship through a summer education program, a workshop, a major conference, an internship program, and resource production.
To equip worship leaders and planners to become more thoughtful, intentional and hospitable in the practice and instruction of the dialogic nature in worship, and to help all worshipers better understand the liturgical elements of and patterns within worship.
To build a sense of unity across generations by focusing on renewal and grace during Lent and community outreach during Eastertide, through retreats and a series of worship services which incorporate teachings, music, drama, visual arts, liturgical dance, and particular times of prayer.
To train worship leaders about the purpose of worship, preparation for worship, prayer, biblically-based praise, preaching, giving, congregational participation and holiness of life by offering a retreat and workshops for six congregations.
To enhance appreciation for, knowledge of, and participation in the Lord’s Supper through commissioned art work, increased cross-cultural participation with the Hispanic community, and specific teaching on the history and theology of the Lord’s Supper.
To encourage active participation of worshipers of all ages particularly during the Gathering, through practical workshops and deliberate effort for varied leadership during worship.
To develop a worship service series that focuses on exploring and encouraging “worship habits” (Vertical Habits) through multi-sensory, intergenerational experiences which help to cultivate a dynamic relationship with God.
