The Autumn Grand Service of the 168th Year of the Teaching

On October 26, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters conducted the Autumn Grand Service at the Main Sanctuary with the Shinbashira presiding. This day commemorates the Teaching’s Day of Origin when Oyasama was settled as the Shrine of Tsukihi. Some 72,000 followers from various parts of Japan as well as overseas countries returned to the Home of the Parent for the occasion. With only three months remaining before the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama, the followers reflected upon the pre-anniversary activities they have been undertaking over the past three years while focusing on “cultivating the mind of saving others” and “implementing salvation work”–the points stressed by the Shinbashira in Instruction Two. Availing themselves of this opportunity to take to heart once again the Parent’s single-hearted desire to save all humankind in the world, they reaffirmed their commitment to complete the pre-anniversary activities and strengthened their resolve to exert their utmost efforts in anticipation of the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama. At 8:00 A.M.–the very hour when Oyasama became the Shrine of Tsukihi–the Shinbashira, accompanied by the other Service performers, left the Church Headquarters Staff Quarters to pay respects at the Foundress’ Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall. He then proceeded to the Main Sanctuary and ascended the dais to read the Service prayer. In his prayer, he first expressed gratitude for God the Parent’s daily blessings. He then said: “On this auspicious day, we Service performers as well as church head ministers and Yoboku will ponder once again over the significance of the Teaching’s Day of Origin and take to heart the preciousness of being able to follow the path that You laid for our benefit. We are resolved to exert further efforts to grow spiritually so that we may become useful timbers for the construction of the Joyous Life World.” The Shinbashira went on to say: “We have been devoting ourselves to making substantial progress in salvation work in anticipation of the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama. With only three months ahead of us, we are now exerting our utmost to complete our pre-anniversary activities. Please continue to guide us with Your warm parental love so that our efforts during this season may bear great fruit.” “Furthermore,” he continued, “the construction of the Oyasato-yakata’s South Right Wing 2 and the westward expansion of the Sanctuary precincts have been successfully completed. We performed a service yesterday to express our gratitude to You for the successful completion of both projects. Thank You, God the Parent, for Your blessings that we received throughout the construction. I hope that these facilities will be fully utilized by people returning to Jiba, thereby enabling the Home of the Parent to have an ever livelier atmosphere.” This was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura and the Dance with Hand Movements. As the followers joined in singing the Songs for the Service, they reminded themselves of God the Parent’s intention in founding the Teaching and prayed for the realization of the Joyous Life World. After the performance of the Dance with Hand Movements, the Shinbashira took the podium to deliver his sermon, in which he explained the parental heart that is embodied in the Teaching’s Day of Origin as well as the way we should live during the next three months leading up to the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama. According to the Overseas Department, a total of 482 followers from 17 countries and regions, including the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, Canada, South Korea, and Taiwan, returned to Jiba for the Autumn Grand Service.