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Cultivating Vital Worship

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship invites you to Calvin College for a day of exploration and worship designed to encourage and equip all those who plan and lead worship with wisdom from CICW program affiliates, guests, and staff and gleanings from 41 grant-funded congregational renewal projects, culminating in an inspiring worship service in the Calvin Chapel. This event is free and open to the public.


Date:

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Location:

Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Pre-registration is now closed. Walk-up registration is available in the Covenant Fine Arts Center lobby starting at 12:30 P.M.

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

Download schedule (pdf)

Check-in

12:30-1:00 P.M.   

Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center, Lobby

Welcome

1:00-1:15 P.M. 

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

Session A Workshops

1:30-2:30 P.M.

Session B Workshops

2:45-3:45 P.M.

Sessions are led by CICW staff, affiliates,Vital Worship Grant advisory board members, and guests. Most are offered twice with a travel break between the sessions.

Choose two:

  1. MANY STREAMS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CONGREGATIONAL SONG
    James Abbington     
    The gifts and treasures that have emerged from African American churches in North America are a blessing to so many churches all over the world. These gifts come from many different traditions within African-American Christianity. This session will explore the similarities and differences in these different traditions, some of the current needs and opportunities within these traditions, and reflect on how Christians from all over the world can learn from the treasures and gifts of these traditions.

  2. UNIVERSAL AND RESPONSIVE DESIGN FOR MISSIONAL WORSHIP: A VISION OF INCLUSION
    Kevin Adams and Barbara Newman
    Stock your congregational garden shed with the tools needed to be a missional church that welcomes people of various backgrounds, situations, and abilities into the worship setting. Leave with a vision and practical ideas to implement this coming weekend.

  3. HOPE FOR AMERICA’S MOST SEGREGATED HOUR
    David M. Bailey and Mark Charles
    The documentary “11 a.m.: Hope for America’s Most Segregated Hour” explores how a group of young musicians seeks to bring hope for change to America’s most segregated hour. Join David Bailey and Mark Charles as they reflect on the learning they have seen and been a part of in response to the film. This discussion will be fruitful for those who have or have not seen the film.

  4. SHAPING THE PASTORAL IMAGINATION: AN INTERVIEW WITH PASTOR DOUGLAS BROUWER LED BY JOHN WITVLIET (session A only)
    Douglas Brouwer and John D. Witvliet
    Reflections on how profound experiences of pastoral ministry can sharpen and deepen our underlying vision for ministry, and how we can cultivate deeper self-awareness--drawing on Doug Brouwer's leadership of congregations, large and small, in the US and Europe.

  5. MULTILINGUAL SINGING FOR ENGLISH-SPEAKING CONGREGATIONS (Session A only)
    María Cornou, Kai Ton Chau, and Rebecca Snippe
    One of the greatest gifts we have is the ability to worship our Lord together as the body of Christ. But with the global church at our doorstep, many worship planners and leaders in English-speaking congregations face questions of how to embrace a global liturgy. This workshop will examine multilingual singing in worship, especially focusing on bilingual contexts (Spanish/English and Mandarin Chinese/English).

  6. CULTIVATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEOLOGY AND THE ARTS: CONFRONTATION, DIALOGUE OR INTEGRATION? AN INTERVIEW WITH SCHOLAR WILLIAM DYRNESS LED BY JOHN WITVLIET (session B only)
    William Dyrness and John D. Witvliet
    Reflections on remarkable developments in the theology-arts conversations over the past few decades, many of which were either prompted by or instigated by William Dyrness' many generative books which explore everything from a theology of art, a theological vision for worship, how people experience the arts in worship, to how we can learn together across global cultures. 

  7. PRAYING IN PUBLIC FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS: CATHOLIC RESOURCES FOR ECUMENICAL USE
    William Johnston
    This session will introduce participants to some of the ritual books and prayer texts and practices employed in Catholic liturgical or pastoral settings that Christians of any tradition could find useful as providing examples or models adaptable to their own various pastoral circumstances.  Expect some reference as well to liturgical art, architecture and music.  Depending on the interests of each group, we may find our conversation ranging from the very practical to the deeply theological - while always richly ecumenical!

  8. HOW PEOPLE CHANGE
    Duane Kelderman, Reggie Smith, and Kristen Verhulst
    Given that deep change is rare, are there predictable factors usually present when people or organizations change? Can leaders do things to help individuals and organizations embrace deep change? This workshop explores these questions to help participants understand change and lead for positive change.

  9. 10 WAYS TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO RACIALLY-FUELED EVENTS
    Nikki Lerner
    Where is the manual for this? How does your ministry respond appropriately when events happen? Move from fear to freedom as you are empowered with creative ideas, inspiration, and safe conversation that will help you know how to lead effectively during divisive times.

  10. WORSHIP AND IMMIGRANT LIVES: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION AND THE ROLE OF BOTH ‘HOME’ AND THE ‘HOST’ CONTEXTS
    Janice McLean-Farrell
    In this workshop we will examine some of the unique gifts that the newer immigrant churches offer to the cities and towns where they are located. Using the current discussion on immigration as our backdrop, we will interrogate how this rhetoric aligns with and/or diverges from what God is cultivating through immigrants within the global Church.

  11. “I SEE YOU” AND “I HEAR YOU”: DIALOGUE AROUND RACE STORIES
    Proskuneo
    Join us for this deep, enriching, and safe time together sharing stories of race and ethnicity experiences that have shaped who we are and how we see the world. You’ll also find ways to move forward in your personal life and professional ministry.

  12. THE FORMATIVE POWER OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
    Lisa M. Weaver
    All calendars provide a rhythm and shape to our lives.  The Christian Year is a calendar that provides a faith-filled rhythm that can order our time and deepen our discipleship.  This workshop provides a brief introduction to the Christian Year and examines how following this calendar can strengthen our faith, enrich our relationship with God, and reorient our view of time.

DOCUMENTARY FILM: Backs Against the Wall: The Life of Howard Thurman

Born the grandson of slaves, Thurman (1899-1981) became a “spiritual foundation” for the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring many of its leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr, Jesse Jackson and John Lewis. His book Jesus and the Disinherited is considered a spiritual classic.

4:00 P.M.- 5:00 P.M.

DeVos Communication Center, Bytwerk Video Theater
Hosted by

POSTER SESSION AND DINNER

5:00-6:30 P.M.

Prince Conference Center, Great Hall

View posters from the 2018 Vital Worship Grants, talk with their representatives, and engage in informal conversations, learning from each other as you move about the room. Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the session as the evening meal.

A FESTIVAL OF SCRIPTURE AND SONG

7:00-8:30 P.M.

Calvin College Chapel, Sanctuary

Led by Proskuneo and Nikki Lerner

DESSERT RECEPTION

8:30 P.M.

Calvin College Chapel, Patio (Undercroft if rain)

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