1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA

On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2025 91ÁÔÆæ
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.
To explore with neighboring congregations the relationship between contemplative practice and Christian worship through art, poetry, multi-sensory practices and reflection.
To study scripture and create visual art that will find and express God's transforming love and create a venue for the entire congregation including families with young children to fully participate in worship.
To explore the role of visual arts in making the Lord's Supper and Baptism more meaningful by giving attention to the church year in corporate worship and small group discussions.
To encourage five congregations to integrate theatre arts into worship with both artistic excellence and biblical integrity through a conference on theater in worship and a year long mentoring program for worship leaders.
To instruct and strengthen core teams of lay leaders through a year-long mentorship to create written resources, visual arts, graphics and musical arrangements for worship.
To include the prayer life of children, expand the use of testimonies in worship, and deepen the understanding of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to unite people of different cultures, generations and denominations while celebrating their diversity.
To educate all members of the congregation in New Testament worship through a series of workshops and small group discussions that will explore the elements of corporate worship to develop a lifestyle of worship.
To partner college students and congregational members in a study of worship and the arts that will lead to worship planning that encourages testimony and students in leadership roles.
To train youth to become active, mature leaders in worship through a year-long series of worship services that will incorporate their leadership and contributions in drama and music.
To develop an intercultural worship planning team for a large, multicultural parish to encourage collaboration in celebrating cultural diversity in worship.
To develop skills and opportunities for artistic expression of scripture that will connect to sermons through lectures and educational workshops.
To engage worship planners from five congregations with seminary staff in a year long learning process that will include theological reflection, dialogue and engagement of the arts.
