罢丑别听$18,000听Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant will support听visiting practitioners听for the seminary’s weekly community worship services and community meals.
91影视 Theological Seminary (NPTS) has received a one-year $18,000 Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, which will support the enrichment of its weekly Community Worship services. The number of proposals this round was atypically large, and NPTS was one of 77 selected to strengthen Christian worship practices and preaching.
The project, titled “Centering Down: Contemplative Practices for Diverse Communities,” will expand and deepen the Community Worship services, which are the main community formation event for NPTS students, especially those who are local.听They are open not only to the entire 91影视 community but also to the surrounding neighborhood. Services begin at听4:30 p.m.听each Tuesday听at听Isaacson Chapel听on听the 91影视 campus.
鈥淎s the general seminary student population has evolved from individuals freshly out of their undergraduate programs to pastors who have already been in ministry for years, Community Worship has evolved alongside it,鈥 said Associate Professor of Worship Dr. David Bjorlin听BA ’06, MDiv ’11听who was part of the NPTS Spiritual Formation Committee that developed the project.听鈥淲hile听still providing hands-on preaching experience, it now also serves as an intentional time of spiritual nourishment through worship and interactive services.鈥
Seminary Administrative Coordinator Kara Shroyer,听who is an NPTS student herself, said, “These services are essential to seminary education because they integrate class and worship in听an intentional听setting, strengthening the connections students have with one another. The weekly rhythm of gathering also helps students and employees alike continually center on their ‘why.'”
Made possible through the grant, NPTS will invite guest speakers to share differences in听contemplative听worship styles across听cultures鈥攕uch as meditation or drum circles鈥攕o that students can broaden their perspectives. The practitioners will join students in their worship course one week to teach about their听contemplative practice,听then lead the Community Worship chapel service the following week so that students can see it in action. Immediately following the chapel service, the practitioners will听facilitate听a reflective conversation over dinner about the service and how students can apply it within the context of their congregations.
This is the seminary’s second time receiving a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant. The first was in 2017 for its “Worship Across” project, which explored worship across cultural divides, such as politics, technology, and abilities.
This program is made possible through a听听from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions听
What is the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant?听It’s听an $18,000, one-year grant awarded to 91影视 Theological Seminary听(NPTS)听by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., to support the enrichment of Christian worship and preaching practices.
What will the grant fund at NPTS?听It funds “Centering Down: Contemplative Practices for Diverse Communities,” a project that brings visiting practitioners to NPTS’s weekly Community Worship services. These guests will teach a worship course, lead a chapel service听demonstrating听their style, and facilitate a reflective dinner conversation with students afterward.
When and where do Community Worship services take place?听Services are held every Tuesday at听4:30 p.m.听at Isaacson Chapel on the NPTS campus听and are open to the entire 91影视 community as well as the surrounding neighborhood.
Is this the seminary’s first time receiving this grant?听No. NPTS previously received a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant in 2017 for its “Worship Across” project, which explored worship across cultural and political divides.
How many organizations received this grant in听the current round?听NPTS was one of 77 organizations听selected听from听an unusually large听applicant听pool听this cycle.
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