Friends and neighbors in Spokane,
Whatever your beliefs or faith, All Are Welcome to join the people of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in a spirit of love, unity, and peace - for a Vigil Against Christian Nationalism this Saturday. In response to a Christian nationalist gathering taking place in our region this weekend, we will come together to celebrate the boundless, inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ, and offer prayers for the healing of our nation.
Our hour-long Vigil will include prayers, organ music, readings, and reflections. All people of goodwill in the Spokane area are welcome to join us for this event and stand together to affirm our shared belief in the dignity of every human being, and the importance of neighborly love in our community and nation.
Our Vigil is being held in response to the “Reawaken America Tour” which is visiting the Post Falls area this weekend. Speakers at past Reawaken Tour stops have invoked the name of God and used the language of warfare in service of a power-seeking agenda, casting all who do not share their views as agents of “Team Satan.” Several speakers were involved in the planning or execution of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
Those who cannot join us in person are invited to join our livestream on the St. Andrew’s Facebook page at the time of the event.
We commend to all the powerful words of the Episcopal Bishop of Spokane in the pages of the Spokesman Review. The Rt. Rev. Gretchen Rehberg recently penned an editorial, explaining: “There is a growing danger of Christian nationalism in this country. Christian nationalism is heresy for Christians and dangerous rhetoric for all Americans… In this time, I invite all of us, of every political party, of every faith and no faith, to study the truth of Christian nationalism and to be active in speaking against it.”
Bishop Rehberg has made clear that the church’s response to this movement is not a political or partisan response. Rather, it is a faith-based response to those who would wrap “the flag and the cross together in a way that misappropriates both.”
Those interested may consider signing a petition of local Christians and allies speaking out against the Reawaken event and affirming: “Biblical Christian values of love, joy, peace, and the dignity of every human being.” The petition has over 600 signatories as of this writing.
To learn more about Christian nationalism, please review the informative Statement at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org. This Statement is endorsed by the Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the President of the United Church of Christ (Congregationalist), the Public Witness Director of the Presbyterian Church, the Chair of the National Council of Churches, the General Secretary of the Friends (Quakers) Committee on National Legislation, the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches U.S.A., as well as several other recognized Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders.
Please note that we do not encourage anyone to engage in a counter-protest of the Reawaken Tour due to security concerns. Our peaceful Vigil will be held at our church, and will be a positive celebration of Gospel values, a time for open reflection, and to pray for peace, unity, and grace to be known in our nation.
St. Andrew’s is celebrating its 95th year of ministry, and is located at 2404 N Howard St. in Spokane, Washington - in the Emerson Garfield neighborhood. Disability access is located in the parking lot on the Northeast corner of the church (enter through the alley off of Carlisle St.). Additional street parking is located in front of the church.
“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)
