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.
Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
To offer weekly worship services based on the 12 steps of addiction recovery that integrates scripture, confession and absolution, testimony, healing liturgy and public prayer in two urban churches.
Ascension Lutheran Church
To link artist, theologian and worshiper in faith conversation and theological reflection that acknowledges art as a language with power to strengthen spiritual formation and results in the creation of art for worship.
Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana
To share the wealth of worship materials with deep roots in Hispanic culture and traditions and to promote critical theological reflection on these materials by bringing together Hispanic worship leaders from multiple denominations for study and worship.
Believers Christian Fellowship Church
To provide lunchtime and after work worship services and classes on Wall Street and in Harlem which encourage active participation of worshipers in reading scripture and leading worship and music through a multi-ethnic, multi-discipline collaborative effort.
Bridge Community Church
To explore contemplation, outreach, hospitality, unity and leadership in worship through monthly seminars for the congregation and community.
Candler School of Theology, Emory University
To enhance capacity of students and faculty for reflective liturgical leadership and to promote worship planning and participation as an integral part of theological education at the school.
Choristers Guild
To teach children’s choir leaders the history and use of congregational song and how to integrate children into worship leadership by partnering nationally-recognized church music clinicians with children’s choir directors.
Christian Student Foundation
To provide student leaders the skills and experience needed to plan and lead worship services through a leadership retreat, peer mentoring program and workshops.
Church of the Ascension
To reflect corporately on the meaning and purpose of worship, including worship designed for the emergent sub-culture, through a parish retreat and a diocesan-wide leadership workshop.
City Hope Ministries
To learn about worship and develop practical and innovative resources for worship which use the unique and varied gifts of four diverse congregations.
Community Recovery International
To offer weekly recovery services which encourage the use of artistic talents and personal testimonies that express God’s grace and forgiveness so that worship becomes the foundation of the healing process.
Diocesan Worship Directors of Michigan
To provide liturgical formation for those involved in parish liturgical ministry with a concerted effort to identify and mentor young adults who will participate as liturgical leaders in the church.