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 reflect on the role of visual arts in worship as pairs of pastors and artists and to present the results of this collaborative learning to the broader body of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
To create a mission-oriented worship environment that focuses on visual arts and healing within the emergent church by integrating tradition, cultural context, and individual gifts.
To develop a culturally authentic and theologically sound evaluative and creative practice of incorporating indigenous art into the worship space to enrich sacramental practices.
To reflect as a congregation on worship services and seasons to promote fuller participation in worship and to equip leadership teams to develop music, arts, study and prayer in the planning of worship.
To link artist, theologian and worshiper in faith conversation and theological reflection that acknowledges art as a language with power to strengthen spiritual formation and results in the creation of art for worship.
To offer weekly recovery services which encourage the use of artistic talents and personal testimonies that express God’s grace and forgiveness so that worship becomes the foundation of the healing process.
To prepare and implement resources for worship that include music, media and visual arts, liturgical movement, creative writing and drama through the creation of an interdenominational, intergenerational worship arts team.
To equip lay leaders to present scripture and multicultural music in worship and to kindle imagination about the design of the new worship space as part of the redevelopment of downtown Washington, DC.
To celebrate the rich heritage of the congregation and embrace its diversity and multicultural growth, which includes more than 100 people from 11 nations, through theologically-driven visual arts workshops and interactive educational classes that will create resources for worship.
To explore the meaning of art in worship as well as to experiment with forms of art and ways to incorporate that art in the ongoing worship life of area congregations.
To create new, engaging and enduring habits of worship through a study of visual arts in worship with an emphasis on communion, baptism and the unity of believers.
To nurture active, intergenerational corporate worship by training parents, grandparents and church school leaders and providing resources for them to promote the daily worship of God in children’s lives in the context of the liturgical year.
