In Baltimore, Maryland, an Evangelical Lutheran church will teach children to be worship leaders. In Grand Haven, Michigan, a Christian Reformed Church will commission inner city youth to create art. 
In Bluffton, Ohio, a Mennonite church will train its members to be supportive in times of death and dying. And in Warwick, Rhode Island, a Korean United Methodist Church will work to create worship that brings together young and older generations in Korean American congregations.
Although different in size, scope and location, all of the projects, and 50 others across North America, have two things in common. Each is intended to foster worship renewal in its congregation and provide a model for other congregations. And each is being funded thanks to a grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship at Calvin College.
The Institute has just announced awards totaling more than $700,000 to 54 churches and organizations across the U.S. and Canada. Indeed the grant program, now in its fourth year, generated interest from nearly every part of North America and from many denominations. The Institute worked with a seven-member national advisory board to evaluate proposals. Funds for the program were provided through a grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1937, the Endowment's major areas of concern are community development, education and religion. 
"Through the grant program we hope to encourage grass roots worship renewal in worshiping communities so that they are able to reflect on the purpose of worship and develop practices that will impact the worship life of their community for years to come," says Calvin's Cindy Holtrop (above), director of the Worship Renewal Grants Program.
Several grant recipients will develop worship education programs designed to train youth and adults in worship leadership skills and in the meaning of worship. Other grants focus on integrating the arts in worship, developing a worship model that meets the special needs of the elderly, and learning about worship practices and songs from other cultures. Grant recipients represent congregations and schools from 18 denominations in the United States and Canada. 
Two other programs grew out of the grant program this year. The Institute will collaborate with conferences in 11 locations. A new initiative, the Campus Worship Formation Program, will help worship teachers and student leaders develop a process for worship renewal on 10 college and university campuses.
This year the Institute received more than 300 proposals from 33 denominations in 40 states and three provinces. 
"Because of the tremendous response, the selection process was extremely difficult. We were especially grateful for so many proposals that give evidence of deep theological reflection on the meaning of worship," says John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. 
Grant recipients for 2003 come from such far-flung locales as Halifax, Nova Scotia; Winchester, Virginia; Mitchell, Ontario; Emporia, Kansas; Ferndale, Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Diego, California and Salt Lake City, Utah.