The March 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 guiding us toward the Joyous Life with warm parental love. Continuing, he said: “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku are determined to make greater efforts in carrying out our work through our respective roles and positions, strive to spread the fragrance of the teachings and engage in salvation work as Oyasama’s instruments, and dedicate our sincerity to nurturing others so that we may respond to Your parental love that urges us to attain a level of spiritual growth befitting the season.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements.
After the Service performance, Honbu-in Masuhiko Yoshikawa took the podium to deliver the sermon on the theme of “a cheerful mind.” Noting that there is God the Parent’s profound intention behind illness and other challenges that are shown to us, Rev. Yoshikawa spoke about how our minds can be swept clean by turning our minds to spreading the fragrance of the teachings and helping save others while having an awareness that we are all needed by God the Parent.
