On April 26, the April Monthly Service was solemnly conducted at Tenrikyo Church Headquarters with the Shinbashira presiding as chief officiant. The Service was attended by a great number of followers, including many who had returned to Jiba from overseas to participate in the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service and the Women’s Association Convention. Simultaneous interpretation for the service prayer and the sermon was provided in seven languages—English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Thai.
In the service prayer, the Shinbashira said: “All of us are resolved to fully understand the Parent’s intention to guide us to the Joyous World. We shall also deepen our understanding of the teachings, base our faith correctly on the Origin of this world, and enhance our sincerity. By taking to heart the words ‘If you do not follow the path of the Divine Model, there is no need for the Divine Model (Osashizu, November 7, 1889),’ we shall follow the Divine Model thoroughly in our daily lives and make more efforts toward the construction of the world which is in accord with Your intention.”
To conclude the prayer, the Shinbashira prayed for further guidance in following the path: “Lest we lapse into idleness and give in to hardships, I pray that You help us continue following the true path of world salvation single-heartedly and encouraging people throughout the world to know the truth of our real Parent and join us in finding joyousness in our daily lives. In unison with all present, I pray that these blessings be bestowed upon us.”
The Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements were then performed joyously, while the followers spiritedly sang the Songs for the Service.
Following the Dance with Hand Movements, Honbu-in Kiyohiko Haruno delivered the sermon. He clarified that “this year is meant to be a season for us to implement what we have each learned” after having spent the past year or so studying closely the intention embodied in Instruction One. Referring to the efforts of the predecessors, his own illness, and his own experiences in spreading the teaching, he suggested that “we take a fresh look at the basics that we ought to bear in mind in striving to spread the teachings.” By way of encouraging the listeners to spread the teaching, he said, “Since the everliving Oyasama is always working through us when we engage in salvation work, we can free ourselves from all our human thinking, including our worries about what has yet to happen.”