Tenrikyo Church Headquarters conducted its August Monthly Service on the 26th in the Main Sanctuary with the Shinbashira presiding.
In the Service prayer, the Shinbashira first expressed his gratitude for God the Parent’s daily blessings. He then said: “We Service performers as well as church head ministers and Yoboku will devote our full measure of sincerity to fulfilling our respective roles. Furthermore, we will make effort upon effort to dig up the root of the teachings and do everything we can to carry out the tasks of single-hearted salvation.”
The Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements were then joyfully performed while the followers joined in singing the songs for the Service in high spirits.
Honbu-in Yaichi Nishiura then took the podium to deliver the sermon. He first spoke on the importance of nurturing children–particularly those who have participated in the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba–so that they may eventually grow into people who can serve as Oyasama’s instruments. He went on to say that, in order to achieve this goal, we need to “follow the path of spiritual growth each day” and “near the intention of the Parent, who desires to save all human beings throughout the world.” He also emphasized the importance of implementing the Service and the Sazuke.
He then talked about how a Yoboku should live each day. He said: “As Yoboku, we need to abide by the teachings without error and go through each day with our minds filled with delight. Living in this way actually amounts to following Oyasama’s Divine Model.” He went on to say: “Let us take time to reflect once again on the way we are following and serving the path. Let us also sow seeds of sincerity as a means to make repayment for the blessings we receive from God.”
Rev. Nishiura continued: “Thanks to Oyasama, who went through a path that was full of difficulties and hardships, as well as to our predecessors, who sowed seeds of sincerity, we are blessed with this wonderful path today. We must be fully aware of this.” Moreover, he said: “Each of us should live each day in high spirits while implementing the path that leads to the Joyous Life. The mission entrusted to us Yoboku is to convey that path to all people throughout the world.”
Referring to a passage from the Shinbashira’s sermon at the Spring Grand Service, he said, “To help the afflicted receive blessings of salvation from their illnesses and troubles, let us commit ourselves to administering the Sazuke and put our sincerity into performing the Service for universal salvation.” He concluded by saying, “Let us follow Oyasama’s path of single-hearted salvation in high spirits and make spiritual growth by nearing the intention of the Parent while maintaining a keen awareness of our role as Oyasama’s instruments.”