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 invite painters, woodworkers, sculptors, musicians, graphic artists and photographers of all ages to use their gifts in worship leadership through ongoing study, practice, workshops, and worship experiences.
To engage in a year long renewal of God's promises in baptism and the book of Revelation through sermons, Bible studies, liturgy and education that will culminate with the Easter Vigil.
To research, experience, and reflect on using hip-hop in worship while nurturing urban teenagers as worship leaders.
To engage leaders of 75 congregations in a deeper understanding and practice of testimony in worship through a workshop, book studies and quarterly discussions.
To incorporate visual arts in the worship space and liturgy of a small, urban church plant.
To break prejudices across generations and cultures in a Lithuanian immigrant community through an intentional focus on scripture, the creation of art, and religious instruction.
To explore ways to make worship accessible for children and adults with disabilities and to recognize and encourage the participation and leadership of those with special needs and gifts through a partnership with eight to ten congregations.
To encourage interaction with scripture and the preached word through journals, lectio divina, prayer, inductive Bible studies, and Asian art with particular attention to unity across ages and cultures in a traditional Japanese American congregation.
To foster intergenerational participation in weekly worship through the development and integration of the gifts of the entire congregation through visual arts, music, multimedia, and drama.
To improve preaching and listening skills by forming small worship groups that will participate in Bible study, research for a worship series, planning services, and preparation of devotional materials for the congregation that connect the themes of the worship services with daily life.
To develop ecumenical and intergenerational worship services that integrate Scripture, silence, and music with a world perspective and to accompany this service with theological reflection on its application for daily living.
To discover the rich significance of the Lord’s Supper through participating in guided learning experiences that encourage creative response, such as visual and dance interpretations of Wesley hymns based on the Eucharist.
