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Still photo from a video in First Church in Windsor’s “God, the Artist” sermon series.

Five Tips on Using Digital Tech to Engage Virtual and In-Person Worshipers

Whether you call it virtual worship or online worship, some people will continue to join worship remotely even as others joyfully return to church buildings. Here are five tips for using digital technology as a “both/and” option for hybrid worship services.

Article Article | June 16, 2022

First Church in Windsor, Connecticut, shared in community sorrow for pandemic deaths.

Pandemic Worship Changes Worth Keeping

So much has changed about church worship since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, soared, waned, and resurges. Those pandemic-forced pivots have created worship opportunities that have helped congregations adapt, find unity amid division, and pursue justice.

Feature Story Feature Story | June 16, 2022

Laurel Pepin and Nicole Grant-Yonkman

A Pastor and Photographer on Creating "God Moments" in Worship

When the pandemic prevented in-person worship, First Church of Windsor, Connecticut, learned how to create liturgical art installations and videos that moved hearts and minds even during virtual and hybrid worship.

Conversation Conversation | June 13, 2022

Hymnku

Writing Hymnkus—Haiku Poetry Set to Music—for Christian Worship

Your congregation can make worship the work of the people when you use their words in worship. The hymnku form—haiku poetry set to music—works for in-person, hybrid, and online worship and can involve many ages.

Article Article | May 23, 2022

Suzanne L. Vinson

Suzanne L. Vinson on Congregations Creating Liturgical Language

Grace Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, often invites members to write words used in worship. They've found that crafting liturgical language, such as calls to worship or stewardship and psalm or song paraphrases, is an easy way to help more people participate in worship and congregational life.

Article Article | May 23, 2022

Lynnette Postuma, Karen Zwart Hielema

Toronto Designers on Visual Cues to God's Time

First Christian Reformed Church of Toronto, Ontario, planned a worship grant connecting color and the liturgical year. They invited the congregation into the biblical story by collaborating on a permanent artwork. Then the pandemic prevented them from entering the church building. The landscape architect and the architect who led the grant say that this pivot turned out to be a good thing.

Conversation Conversation | April 19, 2022

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Vital Worship Grants awarded for 2022 by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship  

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship  announced today that it will fund 25 Vital Worship Grants projects to Worshiping Communities for 2022-2023 as part of its Vital Worship Grants Program.   This group of grants puts us over the 1000 mark for grants awarded through this program. Thanks be to God!

News Item News Item | April 14, 2022

Carol Arend

Carol Arend on the Art of Accompaniment

Accompanying people on their faith journey is an art that can be learned, according to Pope Francis. When St. Thomas More Catholic Community committed itself to the art of accompaniment, it learned principles that nearly any worship community can apply, Catholic or not.

Conversation Conversation | February 14, 2022

Shively Smith

Shively T. J. Smith on Howard Thurman and Congregational Hermeneutics

Congregations and lay Christians have methods of interpreting the Bible and faith life even if they can't articulate them. Using Howard Thurman’s image-rich meditations, scholar Shively T. J. Smith offers a visual way to reflect on applying the Bible to faith and ordinary life.

Conversation Conversation | January 19, 2022

Shively Smith

Shively T. J. Smith on Visualizing Christian Faith through Howard Thurman's Metaphors

Rather than starting with words and theories of interpretation, scholar Shively T. J. Smith uses Howard Thurman's metaphorical imagery to help congregations visually process how they understand scripture and live out their Christian faith.

Conversation Conversation | January 19, 2022

Mimi L. Larson

Mimi L. Larson on Keys to Involving Children in Worship

Scholar Mimi L. Larson explains how theology, beliefs about children's capabilities, and pastors influence whether or how children meet God in worship. She says that Black church culture offers valuable examples.

Conversation Conversation | January 11, 2022

Mimi L. Larson

Mimi L. Larson on Pastors, Pressures, and Intergenerational Worship

Pastors play a crucial role in promoting or preventing intergenerational worship. Scholar Mimi L. Larson explains why, despite the pressures, pastors should treat children as full image bearers of God. This choice influences how all ages engage with God in worship.

Conversation Conversation | January 11, 2022

Jon Terry and Liuan Huska

Jon Terry and Liuan Huska on Liturgies of Restoration

Au Sable Institute developed its Liturgies of Restoration workbook to help university students in summer field science courses connect Christian worship and creation care. Now small groups and churches are using the workbook to cultivate habits of worship, community, earthkeeping, purposeful stewardship, and hope.

Conversation Conversation | January 05, 2022

2022 Teacher-Scholar Grants

Teacher-Scholars awarded Vital Worship Grants for 2022  by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship  

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship announced today that it will fund 16 grants to Teacher-Scholars for 2022-2023 as part of its Vital Worship Grants Program.

News Item News Item | December 01, 2021

Window Rock, AZ

Navajo Christians Build Relationships through Scripture and Culture

Window Rock Christian Reformed Church used a Vital Worship Grant project to connect with more people by engaging scripture in ways reflective of Navajo cultural practices.

Feature Story Feature Story | December 01, 2021

Ellen Gadberry

Ellen Gadberry on Congregations as Communal Visual Choirs

Many worshipers do not see themselves as creative or gifted in the arts. Yet low-risk opportunities to encounter visual art in worship and participate in making liturgical art can strengthen worshipers’ identities as children of the Creator.

Conversation Conversation | November 03, 2021

Rembrandt, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Visio Divina: Sacred Seeing to Encounter God

Just as lectio divina invites people to meditate on scripture, visio divina helps people pray with art. Visio divina, which translates as “divine seeing,” uses silence and images to help worshipers reflect and respond to God in ways other than listening to a sermon or singing praise songs.

Feature Story Feature Story | November 03, 2021

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Introduction to the Ten Core Convictions

A reflection on a selection of CICW’s Ten Core Convictions from the introductory session of the 2021 Virtual Vital Worship Grants Event, led by John D. Witvliet, Director of the Calvin Institute of the Christian Worship, and featuring Vital Worship Grants Advisory Board Members James Abbington, Kimberly Belcher, C. Michael Hawn, William H. Johnston, and Leopoldo A. Sánchez M.

Video Video | July 20, 2021

John D. Witvliet

Emerging research on worship practices and public witness

A panel of teacher-scholars with research projects focused on worship and public witness share the fruits of their research, with a special focus on the implications of their research for worshiping communities.

Video Video | July 20, 2021

Kathy Smith

Emerging research on youth formation and worship

A panel of teacher-scholars with research projects focused on youth and formation share the fruits of their research, with a special focus on the implications of their research for worshiping communities.

Video Video | July 20, 2021