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 undertake a year long process focusing congregational life on renewal of authentic, meaningful worship which is pleasing to God, biblically based, and welcoming to all. The project will include worship services, classes and an ecumenical worship renewal conference.
To offer the Emerging Worship event, a gathering of pastors, seminary professors and lay leaders to concentrate on ways the church can engage the changing culture without compromising the integrity of the Reformed tradition. They also plan to develop useful tools for worship, and to encourage a network of church leaders to more effectively nurture vital worship in congregations through shared resources and critical reflection in study groups.
To train parish liturgical leaders to function competently in their own communities, especially in locations that are served by non-resident clergy.
To renew worship by focusing on the Lord’s Supper through observing Eucharistic practices in a variety of contexts, exploring the Lord’s Supper though a workshop for the congregation, and developing worship practices, visuals or drama appropriate to making the Lord’s Supper more meaningful.
To develop four two-day gatherings for in-depth, hands-on training in worship leadership for adults and youth in smaller urban churches.
To conduct a seminar to address the need for clergy, choirs and congregations to better understand the Psalms and how the Psalms deepen the prayer life of congregations and nurture their faith.
To study the worship practices of the members of the congregation who are of European-American, African-American, and Hispanic backgrounds through a church-wide forum and focus groups, and to develop materials and education classes to continue discussion and incorporate new practices into worship.
To develop two different types of Sunday evening worship services to reach the de-churched and postmoderns, and to offer a contemplative worship retreat.
To become a catalyst for worship renewal in the community by training youth and mentoring them individually, so that they understand the basics of worship and can participate in planning worship services.
To assess current worship services, events and courses at the college, and to explore ways to offer diverse worship services built on a biblical foundation of worship.
To offer a series of one-day events in eight locations on the connections between worship and discipleship. The workshops will help revitalize the worship and empower the ministries of the 182 congregations of the regional synod.
To develop a congregational worship education program that can be used in Sunday school classes or small group studies, and to guide pilot churches in implementing the curriculum, especially in small rural churches.
