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 seek new models of worship which provide a theological framework of multicultural worship in an urban context by offering Multicultural Worship Festivals and a worship conference.
To collaborate with three small, rural churches to create a series of twelve banners, each representing and interpreting an element of worship. Work group members will research and study the theological meaning of each element of worship, collaborate to create a visual representation of that meaning, construct the banner and write narratives interpreting their symbolism so that the banners can be incorporated into worship.
To develop multi-sensory experiences to help worshipers more deeply understand and experience the sacrament of Communion.
To train students in leading congregational singing, presenting liturgy and Scripture and performing drama during services.
To offer symposiums in worship planning, music, art, liturgy and drama for high school students and faculty who seek to plan and lead worship that is richly African-American and authentically Christian.
To enhance the accessibility of the preaching of the word to worshipers of all ages through the use of drama, visual arts, music, and puppets and to design a children’s bulletin that encourages active listening.
To establish new Summer Worship, Arts, and Music Camps which will give children the opportunity to gain an understanding of the structure of worship, skills in leading various aspects of worship, experience with various worship-related arts, and occasions for preparing brief worship services.
To assist churches in incorporating liturgical arts by offering seminars and workshops, and by producing resources that disseminate these concepts to a broader audience.
To commission art and music suitable for services conducted within the home, to assist home-based churches in worship planning, and to write a series of articles to encourage home-based churches to reflect on their worship practices with respect to intentional liturgy.
To organize a training, discipleship, and spiritual development program for local worship leaders which will gather worship leaders, pastors, artists, and presenters for monthly retreats to engage in prayer, song, theological/ministry reflection, learning, and artistic creation.
To awaken global consciousness and involvement of the congregation in their community through the liturgical movements of gathering and sending.
To deepen the understanding and experience of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism by developing musical and liturgical leadership, enriching the worship environment with visual art relating to the sacraments, teaching children about the sacraments, and reaching out to the community through Passion Week worship services.
