The April 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. The Service was attended only by the Service performers under the special arrangement that had asked all other followers—including the heads of directly supervised churches and dioceses—to refrain from returning to Jiba in response to a nationwide state of emergency declared earlier in the month.
In his Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama expressed gratitude to God the Parent for revealing the ultimate teachings for world salvation and guiding us toward the Joyous Life with parental love. Continuing, he said: “Due to the current state of emergency, the Service is attended only by the Service performers, with all other Yoboku and followers worshiping from their own places to express gratitude for the daily blessings and to pray for an early end to the current difficult situation. I humbly ask that You will accept our sincerity. As the situation becomes increasingly unsettling and disruptive, we followers of the path will reflect upon the parental heart that hastens the reconstruction of the world while contemplating how we Yoboku should think and act in these circumstances. We are determined to fulfill our duty as Yoboku in a way that will allow buds to sprout from knots.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. No sermon was delivered after the Service.
On the same day, Church Headquarters made an announcement on its official website that the Main Sanctuary, the Foundress’ Sanctuary, and the Memorial Hall would be closed except during the morning and evening services over Japan’s Golden Week holiday season (April 29 to May 6) as a measure to discourage people from traveling long distances.
Special Arrangements for May Monthly Service
It has already been decided that the May Monthly Service also be attended only by the Service performers.