On April 26, the April Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was conducted in the Main Sanctuary, with Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama serving as chief officiant.
In the Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama first expressed his gratitude to God the Parent for constantly watching over us children as well as for guiding us each day with deep and warm blessings. Continuing, he said: “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku will regard occurrences in our lives and various issues in the world as our own concerns, rather than those of others, and ponder over the intention of the Parent behind them. With a renewed sense of resolve and with the awareness that we are brothers and sisters, we are determined to follow the Divine Model and advance the work of universal salvation step by step.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. On that day, the Home of the Parent was bathed in warm spring sunlight. The worshipers joined together in single-heartedly singing the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service.
After the Service performance, Honbu-in Yoshitaro Fukaya took the podium to deliver the sermon.
Rev. Fukaya first noted that the basis of the Joyous Life, which can also be called the symbol of Tenrikyo, can be found in knowing how precious and wonderful it is to be kept alive and protected by God the Parent’s providence. He then continued: “When we brothers and sisters born of the same Parent live in harmony, while respecting and helping one another, the Joyous Life can be fully savored in its true sense.”
Rev. Fukaya went on to say that the month of April is a season of new encounters, such as entering school or starting a new job. Also, noting that those encounters are arranged in the best way possible for each and every one of us by God the Parent, he encouraged us to cherish these connections and grow into people who can make the most of them. Moreover, he urged us to become people who can extend a helping hand to others.
Lastly, he noted that when we devote ourselves to hinokishin, forgetting the selfish and greedy mind, our minds spontaneously become pure and clear, allowing us to embody the simple openness that God the Parent desires of us. He concluded his sermon by asking the listeners to participate in Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day and work up a precious sweat in hinokishin.