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 educate all members of the congregation in New Testament worship through a series of workshops and small group discussions that will explore the elements of corporate worship to develop a lifestyle of worship.
To engage in a year long renewal of God's promises in baptism and the book of Revelation through sermons, Bible studies, liturgy and education that will culminate with the Easter Vigil.
To explore with children, youth and adults what it means to be a baptizing community by focusing on the ways baptism impacts worship, vocation, and outreach.
To immerse the congregation in the Psalms through regular reading and memorization of the Psalms, a retreat, preaching, and pastoral care education that will teach people to pray all the emotions expressed in the Psalms.
To partner college students and congregational members in a study of worship and the arts that will lead to worship planning that encourages testimony and students in leadership roles.
To provide training through a collaboration of five congregations that will give a biblical perspective on the connections between global worship and the local church to develop a vision for multi-cultural worship.
To train youth to become active, mature leaders in worship through a year-long series of worship services that will incorporate their leadership and contributions in drama and music.
To offer workshops in the theology and practice of worship, congregational singing, drama, movement and visual arts and implement what is learned into congregational worship.
To engage the pastor, choir director, organist, a member of the worship committee and a young adult from 10 small rural churches in Pennsylvania and Maryland in a year long process of learning about worship planning and congregational music that will include seminars and on-site consultations.
To explore the role of the arts, liturgical gifts and an understanding of space in worship through a series of learning events that will integrate chapel more deeply in the life of the seminary.
To study and reflect on the nature of worship and the use of visual and dramatic arts, music, poetry and liturgy in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper in order to break barriers of perceived differences in age, race, ethnicity, theology, accustomed worship style and socio-economic status.
To explore and reclaim liturgical dance in worship while helping two congregations experience and study the Vertical Habits.
