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 explore new music, dance and drama that will deepen worship and bridge racial, cultural and generational divides to promote unity among people in the congregation who represent 40 different countries and meet in several locations.
To offer seminars for laity, worship leaders and local artists to help deepen understanding and appreciation of the Lord’s Supper and prepare the congregation to create new sacramental furniture in a congregation that celebrates the Lord’s Supper weekly and meets in a neighborhood theater.
To offer workshops for congregations throughout the Diocese of Pennsylvania that will help them become more aware of global Anglican resources and use them in creating liturgies that reflect the diversity within the churches.
To immerse the congregation in the Psalms of Ascent with the help of linguists, musicians, visual artists and pastors that will help the congregation form faith, identity and tradition in modern life.
To create scripturally-based, experientially rich worship using music, dance, visual art and writing for patients in treatment at an adolescent residential psychiatric facility.
To offer a series of workshops and small group gatherings to engage ministry leaders in worship planning that incorporates individual gifts and develops a creative arts ministry.
To train adult and youth leaders through a retreat and monthly gatherings to create and lead weekly worship that engages urban youth through word, visual arts and music.
To train and develop the gifts of the worship planning team which includes 25 people through a retreat, workshops, reading circles and congregational evaluation and to collaborate with another congregation to develop youth as worship leaders.
To engage the congregation in learning about God’s presence in worship and daily life through retreats, monthly gatherings and artistic expression that will enrich corporate worship.
To promote unity across groups separated by age and tradition by studying selected hymns and integrating those hymns in four different weekly worship services using visual art, dramatic readings, special music, and Bible study.
To develop intergenerational, scriptural worship through a series of seminars to help the congregation engage in the beauty, mystery, majesty and holiness of God using photography, music, and speaking.
To incorporate the worshipping community in worship planning by creating a collaborative process for sermon development that includes learning the role of the sermon, reflecting critically on current practices, and taking part in the process of developing the sermon.
