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 create and implement a twelve-month process of study, conversations and creative engagement in communion liturgy for all ages that will increase the level of comprehension of the meaning and purpose of the Communion service and explore ways of extending the Table out into the world.
To engage a multilingual, multicultural, multiethnic urban congregation in reflection on unity in diversity through artistic expression in the celebration of the Eucharist and its linkage to baptism that will promote integration among English, Spanish, French and Creole-speaking liturgical communities as one community of faith.
To immerse the congregation in baptismal practices, “affirmation of baptism” practices and public and private psalm-saturated liturgical practices that help believers identify themselves as part of the baptized community as seen and practiced by generations of those saturated in the psalms by offering sermons, monthly baptismal services based on psalms and informed by rituals from the global and historic Christian church, and curriculum for family devotions, small group life and children’s ministry.
To immerse the congregation and community in intergenerational study, dialogue and reflection on the communal nature of the Lord’s Supper through worship services, art, music and workshops that will unite believers throughout time and in many places.
To partner with First United Presbyterian Church of Dunkirk in exploring a deeper and broader understanding of the sacrament of communion in an ecumenical atmosphere of cooperation and fellowship that will promote a more profound understanding while maintaining the mystery, beauty and holiness of the sacrament.
To offer workshops, intergenerational conversations and worship that includes communion in collaboration with neighboring congregations and a seminary that will deepen understanding of the Lord’s Supper and build stronger covenant relationships within and between congregations.
To explore how Christ is proclaimed and remembered in the context of the weekly Lord’s Supper liturgy through study and workshops that will train an intergenerational scripture reading team and the congregation so that speaking and hearing scripture will deepen the observance of communion.
To engage the congregation in a study of the Lord’s Supper through drama, storytelling, art and music that will shape worshipers in understanding how the table nourishes and equips to address the physical and spiritual hunger in the community and the world.
To collaborate with a local congregation in developing workshops on the Lord’s Supper as a mystery to be believed, celebrated and lived that will serve as a guide for adult faith formation.
To engage the congregation in study and reflection of the Lord's Supper and unity that will extend hospitality and shape their life together as they move from being a mono-cultural to multi-cultural congregation.
To collaborate with four local churches of different denominations to encourage ecumenism through the study and implementation of faithful communion practices by offering workshops on Eucharistic and evangelical hospitality as well as tools for using the arts in worship.
To immerse the congregation in a year-long study of the centrality of the Lord's Supper in worship that will lead to the creation of liturgical art and new sacramental furniture that is a reminder of communion as the center of the life of the church as the congregation moves to a permanent worship space.
