Notes

CALVIN WORSHIP INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES WORSHIP RENEWAL GRANT PROGRAM

Do you have a dream for worship in your church that has not been possible because of lack of funding? Do you have a vision for worship renewal in your congregation that is waiting for a catalyst? If so, read on. . . .

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is pleased to announce a new three-year program to support initiatives designed to foster well-grounded worship renewal in congregations throughout North America. This new program, which is made possible with funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., will allow pastors, educators, church musicians, artists, architects, and scholars to complete short-term projects related to the study and practice of Christian worship. The program is designed to serve a grass-roots constituency of those concerned with the vitality of the worship life in their local Christian communities in a variety of denominations. Grants will be awarded in each of the next three years, following a competitive application process.

The Institute solicits applications for grants of $5,000-$15,000 to support composition of liturgical music, design of liturgical space or liturgical artwork, production of recordings of music or educational lectures, and development of regional and congregational educational and training events. Ideal projects for such grants are those that (a) involve individuals (clergy, musicians, artists, scholars) who serve in a leadership role in a local congregation, (b) include a component of study and theological reflection, and (c) have potential for spurring renewal in a local congregation or cluster of congregations. Preference will be given to projects with the potential to model worship renewal for a broad range of churches, or to generate insights or resources that can be shared with a broad range of congregations. Funds should be used for projects that are not supported by the general operating budget of a local church or educational institution. For example, these funds might support

  • the development of a program for parish liturgical education that would be published in a worship journal
  • a multicongregation children’s choral festival that involves a worship education program for children
  • an artistic commission that would include a church education course on the arts in worship
  • a church leadership retreat that involves sustained study of the history and theology of Christian worship
  • a local conference on worship and the arts
  • a composer-in-residence program
  • development of worship resources (a book of texts, a video course) on an aspect of planning or leading worship. Or any number of other possible projects!

Let yourself dream!

Applications for the first year of the program are due on September 1, 1999, and awards will be announced in November 1999. For grant application materials, contact

Worship Renewal Grants Program
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
3201 Burton SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Telephone: 616-957-6088, fax: 616-957-8454.
Website: www.calvin.edu/worship

CONFERENCES

1999 Renew Your Worship! Workshops

Houston, TX, January 30
Dallas, TX, February 1
Albuquerque, NM, February 13
Flagstaff, AZ, February 20
Phoenix, AZ, February 22
Denver, CO, February 27
Colorado Springs, CO, March 1
Las Vegas, NV, March 6
Vancouver, BC, April 4
Victoria, BC, April 12
Edmonton, AB, April 17
Calgary, AB, April 19
Saskatoon, SK, April 24
Regina, SK, April 26
Winnipeg, MB, May 1
Sault St. Marie, ON, May 3
Toronto, ON, May 8
Stoney Creek, ON, May 10
Montreal, PQ, May 15
Halifax, NS, May 17

One-day leadership-training workshops with Robert Webber on blending contemporary and traditional worship. Contact: Institute for Worship Studies, Box 894, Wheaton, IL 60189; 630-510-8905; fax 630-510-0601; Website: http://members .aol.com/worshipweb

Valparaiso IN, April 13-15, 1999
“Worship, Culture, and Catholicity: Forming Christians” is the theme of the 1999 Institute of Liturgical Studies. Contact the Office of the Institute, 888-422-2777; (219) 464-5055; http://www.valpo .edu/theology/ils.

Montreat, NC, June 20-26, June 27-July 3, 1999
(two identical conferences).
God’s Worshiping Children: Instructed by Faith, Sustained by Prayer, & Governed by Love. Contact: Montreat Conference Center, PO Box 969, Montreat NC 28757, 800-572-2259l fax 704-669-2779; http://www.mra.montreat.edu

Sioux Center, IA, July 7-10, 1999
COLAM ’99 (Conference on Liturgy and Music) at Dordt College cosponsored with Reformed Worship and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. For a brochure, see RW 50 or contact COLAM ’99, Dordt College, 498 - Fourth Ave. NE, Sioux Center IA 51250; 712-722-6221; fax: 712-722-1185; krynders@dordt.edu.

Vancouver, BC, July 11-15, 1999
Annual conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, with a focus on global song. Contact The Hymn Society, Boston University School of Theology, 745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston MA 02215-1401; 617-353-6493; 800-THE-HYMN; e-mail: hymnsoc@bu.edu

Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA, July 21-23, 1999
Sacred Arts Summer Conference. Contact Sandra Billy, The Center for Sacred Music, 1584 Welayan Drive, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA 23502; (737) 455-3200; fax (757) 466-8526; e-mail: sbilly@vwc.edu

Reformed Worship 51 © March 1999 Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church. Used by permission.