CICW has awarded Vital 91ÁÔÆæ, 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.

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Sacraments
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

St John’s Episcopal Church

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. 

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Bridgeport, connecticut
2013
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Granite Springs Church

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. 

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Lincoln, california
2012
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Mt Teman A.M.E. Church

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Elizabeth, new jersey
2012
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

St John’s United Church of Christ

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Dunkirk, new york
2012
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

St Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church

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. 

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Atlanta, georgia
2012
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Christ the King Presbyterian Church

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Raleigh, north carolina
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

First Presbyterian Church

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.  

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Clinton, oklahoma
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Notre Dame Center for Liturgy

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Notre Dame, indiana
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

First Presbyterian Church of Altadena

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Altadena, california
2010
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Harvest House Baptist Church

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Forest City, north carolina
2010
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Loop Church

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.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Chicago, illinois
2010
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Sacraments

Maple Avenue Ministries

To engage the congregation in a year-long study of how baptism forms and informs identity to more deeply live into their mission statement "Centered in Christ, Called to the Core City, and committed to being a multicultural community reconciled to each other through Christ."

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Holland, michigan
2010
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