Recently Rainbow received one of 31 grants awarded by the Vital Worship Grant program of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.

The 31 awarded grants represent 21 states, 2 provinces, and 31 denominations. We were the only Mennonite congregation to receive a 2014 grant, as well as the only KS project!

We stated in our grant application that we would center our grant year around further developing and enhancing our existing WorshipArts program.What is WorshipArts you ask? It’s a program which provides music, worship, and art opportunities for our Kindergarten-5th grade congregants. Click here to see our church website description of WorshipArts.

One major event of the year will be an all-church retreat, held on September 20-21, led by composer Paul Rudy and educator/musician Lana Maree Haas. Look for registration details soon.

The grant project director is Rosi Penner Kaufman. Parents of K-5th graders, you will soon receive a letter from Rosi outlining our hopes for the year.

And now for some photos. As grant recipients Rosi and I had the privilege of attending the WorshipArts colloquium June 9-11. It was held on the beautiful Calvin College campus. We attended seminars, worship, visited with the 2013 grant recipients, and we received many new books for our library.

We have much to look forward to in this year of celebrating and enhancing our WorshipArts program!

Rosi in the choir directed by Michael Hawn!

Calvin College Chapel

Rosi blessing a Dobson.

So many books!