The May Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was performed on the 26th in the Main Sanctuary, with Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama serving as chief officiant on behalf of the Shinbashira.
In the Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama first expressed gratitude to God the Parent for revealing the teachings for world salvation and guiding us with warm parental love toward a joyous world. Continuing, he said: “Assembled before You are the Service performers and the heads of dioceses and directly supervised churches who are attending the Service in the Main Sanctuary on behalf of all other followers. I ask that You, God the Parent, become spirited by looking upon the way they express their gratitude for Your daily blessings as they continue to rely on Your providence. Without letting ourselves feel depressed about the various issues that are shown in the world, all of us followers will ponder deeply over Your parental love—which “is only [concerned] about the means to save” us human beings (Ofudesaki XIV:35)—as we exert our utmost sincerity in engaging in salvation work.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Susumu Haruno took the podium to deliver the sermon.
After reflecting upon how he had been following the path during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Haruno stressed the need to settle our minds and start taking concrete actions rather than simply waiting for the pandemic to end. He then noted how engaging in salvation work starting with whatever we can will lead to building a foundation that will help us open a broad path.
He moved on to talk about how important it is to follow Oyasama’s Divine Model as we engage in the work of single-hearted salvation. Noting how Oyasama will surely guide us toward a desirable course of life by watching over how we ponder and take action, Rev. Haruno called on the members of the congregation to walk on the path of single-hearted salvation cheerfully together in high spirits.