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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Visual Arts
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Alternative Intergenerational

Trinity Presbyterian Church

To connect a theology of worship and the arts with the mission of the church through a monthly series of ecumenical worship services partnering with local homeless shelters, hospitals, and nursing homes.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Charlottesville, virginia
2014
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Alternative Drama/Dance

University Congregational United Church of Christ

To enter a church-wide intergenerational exploration of the gospel through the arts of drama, song, dance, storytelling, and sculpture and to integrate these artistic forms in worship experiences through the seasons of the church year.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Seattle, washington
2014
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

LaSalle Street Church

To create opportunities for the congregation to cultivate a culture of story-telling – exploring new ways to tell and listen to scriptural narratives, and finding linkages between scriptural narratives and our individual life journeys – by engaging in movement, puppets, theater, poetry and integrating this creativity into the worship life of the church. 

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Chicago, illinois
2013
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church (2012)

To provide opportunities for the congregation to publically lament the destruction of their building following a lightning strike and to remember God’s blessings while they are worshiping in a public school building by creating visual art for worship from salvaged objects that will have a home in their new building and that can be shared with other churches in similar situations to help them sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Mayfield, new york
2012
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)

To partner with local congregations by offering “hands-on” experiences in the visual arts as a means for artists and congregations to study and respond to the Creation Psalms.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Wenham, massachusetts
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

First Presbyterian Church

To explore the intersection of the arts and worship through workshops on the visual arts, music, dance, drama and spoken word in partnership with an ecumenical group of four congregations and to implement the learning in the worship life of each of the congregations.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Sterling, illinois
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

LaSalle Street Church

To offer to the congregation a year of creative opportunities in the visual arts that begin with Scripture and are created in response to the scriptures of the seasons with attention to the diversity of Christian experience and global cultures to nurture a creative culture that can be central to ongoing worship renewal.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Chicago, illinois
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ

To initiate worship renewal in the 154 congregations within the Conference by emphasizing imagination, creativity and the arts as a liturgical focus for congregational and individual renewal by offering a series of retreats and workshops that conclude with a conference wide gathering.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
St. Louis, missouri
2011
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed Church

To engage the congregation in a study of the liturgical seasons and creation of visual arts that will guide worshipers throughout the year.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Grand Rapids, michigan
2009
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Visual Arts

Jubilee Fellowship Christian Reformed Church

To engage the congregation in a process that will deepen understanding of the seasons of the Liturgical Church Calendar through sermons, teaching and the creation of visual arts.

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
St. Catharines, ontario
2009
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