The May 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.
In the Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama first expressed gratitude to God the Parent for becoming openly revealed by settling Oyasama as the Shrine at the arrival of the Promised Time as well as for having been guiding us toward a world filled with joy by teaching the Service, bestowing the truth of the Sazuke, and disclosing the truth of origin in order to save all people throughout the world. He then noted that all church head ministers will be given an opportunity to attend a Monthly Service of Church Headquarters within the boundary bars in the Main Sanctuary during the period from May 2023 to August 2025 so as to help them make a firm resolution to engage in pre-anniversary activities. Continuing, he said: “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku will connect our minds of sincerity to Jiba as we make layer upon layer of efforts in our daily lives to ensure that our churches—which are to represent Jiba—conduct their activities in ways befitting a training center for single-hearted salvation as well as reflect the way of the Joyous Life to their local communities. We are thus determined to respond to the intention of God the Parent, who granted us the truth of church names for eternity.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Masaharu Matsuda took the podium to deliver the sermon.
In his sermon, Rev. Matsuda spoke about world salvation, which is mentioned in Instruction Four, by referring to various other texts including the Ofudesaki. He then spoke about how all efforts such as praying for the salvation of people around us and spreading the fragrance of the teachings in overseas countries, among others, lead to world salvation. Rev. Matsuda then expressed his hope that we followers would seek to fulfill our duties in our respective roles and positions in high spirits by exerting ourselves to a greater extent than usual during the “three years, one thousand days” season leading up to the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama.