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 train and encourage parish musicians in small congregations by offering classes in the theological and liturgical foundations of worship and the development of musical skills.
To develop a two-week formation program for clergy and laity to probe the connection between Jesus' death and resurrection and the practice of worship and prayer, and the connection between worship and daily living.
To study the implications of church architecture and sacred space in worship through a Peer Learning process that will assist the congregation to develop plans for the construction of a new church building.
To provide workshops on music, ritual theory, visual arts, architecture, dance, drama, sacred text, and the importance of sacramentality with attention to Hispanic, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and Euro-American perspectives to enrich worship on campus and in the surrounding community.
To assist churches in incorporating liturgical arts by offering seminars and workshops, and by producing resources that disseminate these concepts to a broader audience.
To deepen the understanding and experience of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism by developing musical and liturgical leadership, enriching the worship environment with visual art relating to the sacraments, teaching children about the sacraments, and reaching out to the community through Passion Week worship services.
To develop a collaborative, intergenerational visual arts project with adults, youth and children to create art for worship, and to share these projects with the community through a seminar.
To energize and enrich worship through the congregation-wide shared experience of planning, creating and evaluating relevant, service-specific visual art.
To offer a one-week Summer Institute on worship and the arts for clergy, laity and seminarians with the intent of exploring the intersections of arts and religion and how these intersections can renew worship.
To engage the congregation in a study of their worship environment, and to hold a symposium exploring how the arts can help shape a worship setting, especially for churches that do not have a permanent worship facility.
To support a conference for pastors, worship leaders, seminary and university students, and laypersons on the theological foundation of worship and practical skills for leading worship, with an emphasis on the use of visual arts.
To develop music and visual arts for the liturgical year which will encourage and inspire creativity in small congregations with limited resources.
