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 integrate children into planning, leading, and participating in worship through a summer education program, a workshop, a major conference, an internship program, and resource production.
To equip worship leaders and planners to become more thoughtful, intentional and hospitable in the practice and instruction of the dialogic nature in worship, and to help all worshipers better understand the liturgical elements of and patterns within worship.
To build a sense of unity across generations by focusing on renewal and grace during Lent and community outreach during Eastertide, through retreats and a series of worship services which incorporate teachings, music, drama, visual arts, liturgical dance, and particular times of prayer.
To train worship leaders about the purpose of worship, preparation for worship, prayer, biblically-based praise, preaching, giving, congregational participation and holiness of life by offering a retreat and workshops for six congregations.
To enhance appreciation for, knowledge of, and participation in the Lord’s Supper through commissioned art work, increased cross-cultural participation with the Hispanic community, and specific teaching on the history and theology of the Lord’s Supper.
To encourage active participation of worshipers of all ages particularly during the Gathering, through practical workshops and deliberate effort for varied leadership during worship.
To develop a worship service series that focuses on exploring and encouraging “worship habits” (Vertical Habits) through multi-sensory, intergenerational experiences which help to cultivate a dynamic relationship with God.
To integrate offering of time, materials goods, services and money into liturgical practices so that worshipers better understand the processes by which we offer and receive gifts from God and from one another.
To equip children and youth for Christian worship within the liturgical framework of the Eucharist, and to foster intergenerational church community by fully engaging young people in a corporate worship experience through a newly commissioned Eucharistic liturgy for young voices and Orff instruments.
To connect a multicultural, multi-class group of children and youth with artists/mentors to learn about and practice various art forms including painting, puppetry/drama, photography, dance and music that will be used in worship.
To energize and enrich worship through the congregation-wide shared experience of planning, creating and evaluating relevant, service-specific visual art.
To study the Eucharist and its practice in the United Methodist church through a collaboration with six congregations, and to enrich existing Easter Vigil liturgies through the use of liturgical dance, storytelling, and the electronic media while encouraging other congregations to institute Vigils for the first time.
