The September Monthly Service was conducted on September 26 with the Shinbashira presiding. To commence the Service, the Shinbashira, accompanied by the other Service performers, worshiped at the Foundress’ Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall before proceeding to the Main Sanctuary, where he read the prayer to God the Parent.
The Shinbashira began the prayer by thanking God the Parent for the daily blessings. He then said, “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and Yoboku shall ponder over what has been happening to us followers of the path and other people of the world so that we may understand the intention of God the Parent and thereby make a firm resolution to settle the mind of sincerity and put forth our best endeavor for this path.”
Following the prayer, the Kagura and the Dance with Hand Movements were joyously performed in harmony with the music of the nine musical instruments while followers joined in the singing of the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service.
At the end of the Service, Honbu-in Yaichi Nishiura delivered a sermon. He said: “The path, which was laid by Oyasama alone, has now become a broad path. Needless to say, it is due to the blessings of God the Parent. But it is also because Zenbei (Oyasama’s husband), Shuji (Oyasama’s eldest son), Kokan (Oyasama’s youngest daughter), the first Shinbashira as well as the early followers who were close to Oyasama all underwent hardships with Oyasama in the course of following the path.” Referring to Oyasama’s husband, Zenbei, he said, “At the moment when he laid aside all his human thoughts and resolved to follow the path in single-heartedness with God, Oyasama was settled as the Shrine of Tsukihi, thus marking the beginning of this path.” Concerning the day of origin on which the Teaching was founded, he explained the important point of our faith by saying, “From his resolution we should learn the spirit of being single-hearted with God in making ‘spiritual decisions’ so that we can think and act based on the intention of God the Parent.” He concluded his sermon by requesting all of us followers to unite our minds as one and exert ourselves fully in following the path of actual progress spiritedly so that we shall not fail to take advantage of the timely season.
On the following day, the autumn memorial service was performed in remembrance of our predecessors who dedicated their lives to Tenrikyo. After the Yorozuyo and the Twelve Songs were performed at the Main Sanctuary, a ceremony was held in the Memorial Hall. In the ceremony, the Shinbashira delivered the eulogy in memory of our predecessors: “The number of children following the path in adoration of the Parent of Origin has increased, and we have been so blessed with the path’s present development. These facts are all, undoubtedly, due to the exquisite forethought and providence of God the Parent. But they are also the consequences of the sincere work done by you predecessors, who devoted yourselves to your sublime mission in adoration of Oyasama, putting aside all concerns of inconvenience to yourselves and your families.”