On April 18, the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service was conducted to commemorate the everliving Oyasama’s 224th birthday in the Main Sanctuary and the Foundress’ Sanctuary of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters with Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama presiding as chief officiant.
At 9:35 a.m., Rev. Daisuke Nakayama and other Service performers left the Staff Quarters and proceeded to the Main Sanctuary after paying their respects at the Foundress’ Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall. In the meantime, the Shinbashira—who is recuperating—proceeded to the Main Sanctuary from the north side of the East Corridor to join in worshiping together inside the partition bars in the South Worship Hall.
In the Service prayer, Rev. Daisuke Nakayama expressed gratitude to God the Parent for creating the world and human beings, for becoming openly revealed through Oyasama—who was settled as the Shrine of God—upon the arrival of the Promised Time, and for opening the path of world salvation by revealing the origin of all things with warm parental love. He then said: “On this day today, all of us followers will further heighten our awareness and deepen our joy of serving as Your instruments. We are determined to straightforwardly follow the Divine Model in any situation so as to be able to make repayment for Your blessings.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service, after which the Shinbashira and his wife, Harue, as well as Successor-Designate Nakayama and his wife, Nobue, proceeded to the Foundress’ Sanctuary to serve a meal to the everliving Oyasama. In the meantime, the Dance with Hand Movements was performed in high spirits.
Following the Service, Honbu-in Yoshitaro Fukaya took the podium to deliver the sermon. Rev. Fukaya said that the path of the Divine Model, which Oyasama demonstrated for us, is the path of single-hearted salvation, the path that reflects the parental heart that desires to save all people throughout the world. He then noted that single-hearted salvation is therefore what Oyasama expects those of us who are Yoboku to strive for. Toward the end of his sermon, Rev. Fukaya said, “On this auspicious day of Oyasama’s birthday, let us pledge together to live up to Oyasama’s expectations with the awareness that we are serving as Her instruments.”
After the sermon, Successor-Designate Nakayama was joined by the other Service performers in the Foundress’ Sanctuary, where he read a prayer to the everliving Oyasama. After extending words of celebration, he said: “All of us followers will ponder over how we are following the path by using Your Divine Model as our guiding principle. We are determined to take a firm step forward as Your instruments as we strive to engage in salvation work.”
The “Joyous Harmony”—which was previously called the “Joyous Chorus”—then took place in the Inner Courtyard with infection control measures in place, creating a celebratory ambiance. The event was cosponsored by the Women’s Association, the Young Men’s Association, and the Boys and Girls Association.