1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
2013 marks the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism. We will explore the unique qualities of this beautiful Reformed expression of the Christian faith and introduce new tools by which the Heidelberg Catechism can continue as a vital tool for faith formation in the church today.
The eyes have good work to do in worship, and it’s not as easy as opening and closing them.
John Thompson, director of creative and copyright development at EMI CMG Publishing, describes how publishers help songwriters get their songs out to churches and how they help churches to find out about new songs for worship.
Brad O’Donnell discusses the changes in the music industry over the last fifteen years. The advent of Napster, YouTube, iTunes and similar outlets has brought about huge shifts in how music is marketed and sold. And worship music has become the most popular and profitable subgenre of the Christian music industry.
In this workshop, Mark Gornik will discuss how he came to a deeper understanding of God and the Christian life through worshipping with African churches in New York City.
What kinds of questions should we be asking so that we think about the struggles of young people in post-modern times? How does the Gospel minister to these basic issues of life?
Using the resources of ancient texts, architectural remains, and visual art, this workshop aims first at uncovering baptism’s meaning for the first generations of Christians who received it and then at how that information can enrich our teaching about, preparation for, and practice of Christian baptism today.
In this workshop, we considered the surprisingly embodied work of the Holy Spirit described in scripture, and think about the importance of the body for those who would become people of the Spirit.
Worship Renewal Grant recipients from diverse congregations described what they are learning about sacramental practices that nurture and strengthen faith in people of various ages and cultures.
This workshop pondered the dynamics of worship conflicts, and suggest steps for navigating through them.
Can congregations with a “praise band” worship culture be led to joyfully embrace the practices of historic liturgy? Yes, if they are allowed to taste it slowly and if they see the evangelical and missional wisdom embedded in the ancient ways.
Many churches today are eager to present themselves as “intergenerational” in their worship. In a society that so easily separates people by age, developmental level, and experience, can the church succeed in keeping the generations together? Is this idea new and novel, or old and tested? What are the considerations and issues we’ll have to deal with? How do we accommodate different rates of faith development? What are the benefits of succeeding? We’ll draw on each other’s experiences and reexamine the conversations that The Church of All Ages started.
