1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2024 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 engage the congregation in learning about the important foundational elements of Christian worship with a focus on children who make up a large percentage of the congregation.
To explore diverse traditions, stories and artistic expressions with children, youth and adults who represent multiple cultures, socioeconomic class and denominational traditions and incorporate the learning into worship.
To deepen a relationship between two congregations in a cooperative parish through worship, study, fellowship, and liturgical arts focused on gathering as a community around the Lord’s Table.
To explore the role and meaning of visual symbols in worship and incorporate them as a catalyst for other types of expression through intergenerational learning experiences that will build a vocabulary of faith.
To engage college students with the congregation in a process of creating intergenerational worship that includes new voices in planning and leading worship.
To initiate avenues for teens and young adults to become involved in planning and leading worship for a growing multicultural congregation.
To engage the congregation in a study of the liturgical seasons and creation of visual arts that will guide worshipers throughout the year.
To develop a process that brings together clergy and people with disabilities to create a model of inclusive worship in six area congregations.
To create worship liturgies that connect classic Christian texts and secular artistic, literary, and philosophical works in collaboration with local congregations and campus ministries.
To explore creative uses of media and the arts in order to engage youth and encourage collaboration between youth and adults in planning worship.
To create worship services that expand the range of music, visual art and technology used in worship, incorporate the gifts of lay leaders in worship planning and reflect their multicultural community.
To deepen students’ understanding of theology and the arts in worship in partnership with two other campus ministries through workshops and planning worship together.
