The September 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 becoming openly revealed by settling Oyasama as the Shrine out of the desire to save all people throughout the world and for revealing the truth of human creation and guiding us along the path of spiritual growth leading to the Joyous Life. Continuing, he said, “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku are striving to walk on the path of single-hearted salvation exactly as demonstrated in the Divine Model while pondering deeply over the mind of Oyasama. We take to heart once again the weight of the mission entrusted to each of us as we reaffirm our determination to perform the service with utmost sincerity, administer the Sazuke, and make further progress in fulfilling our duties as Yoboku.”
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 spoke about the importance of seeking the path ourselves through missionary and salvation work. “Let us have an awareness of being Oyasama’s instruments and administer the Sazuke to those who are suffering from illness in the hope that they will be able to savor the blessings of the Joyous Life,” he said. After noting how spreading the fragrance of the teachings and helping save others constitute our mission, he concluded his sermon by saying, “As we move toward the upcoming anniversary, let us make concerted efforts to bring joy to the everliving Oyasama and thereby to respond to Her parental love.”
