With warm spring sunlight streaming down on the Home of the Parent, the April Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was performed on the 26th in the Main Sanctuary with the Shinbashira presiding as chief officiant.
In the Service prayer, the Shinbashira touched upon the upcoming Hinokishin Day and said, “On that day, many of us children of the path will express the gratitude we feel for Your daily workings that keep us in good health by engaging in hinokishin activities, thus responding to the boundless blessings You provide for us.” He went on to say, “We Service Performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku will fulfill our respective roles and positions, help one another, compensate for each other’s shortcomings, and strive to carry out our mission as Yoboku to reconstruct the world as that of the Joyous Life.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements.
After the Service performance, Honbu-in Kaneo Takeya took the podium to deliver the sermon.
Rev. Takeya talked about our mission and the basic stance of mind we should maintain as Yoboku as well as the mind of true sincerity. He said that our sincere efforts to serve God the Parent, such as sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings by saying a few words, can become “seeds” that will sprout as blessings of salvation as we contribute and dedicate our sincerity through carrying out daily hinokishin, which can provide fertilizers.
Approximately 280 people from overseas listened to this month’s prayer and Rev. Kaneya’s sermon through simultaneous interpretation provided in eight languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Nepali, and Thai.