The September 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 out of the desire to save all people throughout the world and for revealing the truth of human creation, teaching the path of single-hearted salvation, and guiding us toward the Joyous Life. Continuing, he said, “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku will cultivate a firm conviction of faith by using the teachings as the yardstick and thereby spread the teachings of the path leading to true salvation to every corner of the world as we strive to dedicate ourselves to the cause of single-hearted salvation.” Regarding this year’s Tenrikyo Nioigake Day, which was to be conducted in a few days time, Rev. Nakayama said, “As befits the current season, we will encourage as many Yoboku as possible to engage in spreading the fragrance of the teachings—with church head ministers leading them at the forefront of the missionary work—as we seek to respond to Your parental heart.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Akihiro Inoue took the podium to deliver the sermon. Rev. Inoue elaborated on what Instruction Four encourages Yoboku to do during this season by referring to Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo and his own personal experiences. Noting how God the Parent gives us Yoboku opportunities to implement salvation work, Rev. Inoue stressed that we should always keep our eyes open to such opportunities. He then said that it is important first and foremost to visit our churches and worship in a most sincere manner.