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.

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Saint Pius X Catholic Church

To promote a community that moves from inclusion to belonging for congregants with intellectual disabilities and their families by reducing barriers to full participation and forming the congregation to actively welcome everyone made in God’s image.

Worshiping Communities
Granger, indiana
2023

South Congregational Church (2023)

To encourage worshipful reflection on Easter hope by creating a theologically informed outdoor art installation and hosting events related to the piece.

Worshiping Communities
Kennebunkport, maine
2023

St. Gregory’s Hall Sacred Music Program

To encourage multisensory worship and a deeper appreciation for the incarnational nature of the Christian faith by creating a sacred music program that includes instruction on the theology of worship, special music in festival liturgies, and a retreat.

Worshiping Communities
Chicago, illinois
2023

St. John’s Abbey

To promote ecumenical worship and hymn singing by hosting multi-choir hymn festivals and offering organ lessons focused on creative hymn accompaniment.

Worshiping Communities
Collegeville, minnesota
2023

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Sweet Air

To learn about worship symbolism and accessibility concerns that hinder welcoming all worshipers through engaging in learning groups that explore relevant resources and analyze other worship spaces.

Worshiping Communities
Phoenix, maryland
2023

St. Mary's Catholic Church

To strengthen worshipers’ experience of communion and to deepen the connections between Eucharistic worship and all areas of life by gathering parishioners for weekly opportunities to study, reflect, and practice community. 

Worshiping Communities
Jackson, tennessee
2023

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

To strengthen intergenerational worship through the creation of a children’s choir, liturgical discipleship courses for children, and communal prayer projects that integrate people from different generations. 

Worshiping Communities
National City, california
2023

Sun Valley City Church

To deepen the congregation’s knowledge of preaching and worship through the development and implementation of a curriculum centered in the scriptures and the community, with the added goal of sharing the curriculum with other congregations in this church’s network.  

Worshiping Communities
Sun Valley, california
2023