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 create worship that both reflects and helps form the unique multicultural congregation by recovering authentic indigenous worship materials and creating art, worship environments, music and educational experiences that reflect the worship traditions, theologies, pieties and vocabularies of the community.
To offer a series of workshops on visual arts, drama and improvisational preaching for churches in the conference and provide opportunities for the congregations to report to one another on their experience of worship renewal within their congregations.
To explore the role of arts in worship through a series of workshops and book studies to encourage members of the congregation to become involved in worship planning and implement what has been learned.
To provide training in liturgical practices and music for the multicultural youth choirs of two churches that will encourage youth to take an active role in worship as a way to strengthen their identity within the worshiping community.
To offer workshops for the congregation and neighboring churches to explore music in worship that will cross denominational, cultural, socio-economic and racial divisions.
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.
