On January 1, the New Year’s Day Service for the 188th year of Teaching was solemnly performed in the Main Sanctuary with Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama presiding as chief officiant.
On New Year’s Eve, it was windy due to a winter atmospheric pressure pattern. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, worshipers, bundled up in warm clothes, walked on the wet gravel in the Sanctuary precincts and gathered in the Main Sanctuary one after another.
Shortly before 5:00 a.m., Rev. Nakayama and other Service performers left the Staff Quarters and paid their respects at the Foundress’ Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall. Then, Rev. Nakayama proceeded to the upper dais in the Main Sanctuary.
In the Service prayer, following his New Year’s greetings, Rev. Nakayama said: “Last year, the second year of the ‘three years, one thousand days’ period, we spiritedly devoted ourselves to the path in the hope of actively making progress toward world salvation. We are deeply thankful for Your profound parental love and all the guidance we received from You.”
Continuing, he said: “Having welcomed the third year of the pre-anniversary activities, all of us Yoboku are determined, with a fresh mind, to fulfill our role as Your instruments by dedicating ourselves to the work of single-hearted salvation as well as thoroughly maintaining single-heartedness with You. I ask You, God the Parent, to continue to guide us through this year so that we may spiritedly walk the path to build the Joyous Life, even if it takes endless generations.”
The prayer was followed by a joyous performance of the first Service of the year, comprising the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements.
The temperature dropped even further as sunrise approached. The worshipers joined in singing the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service, in high spirits.
After the Service, Rev. Nakayama proceeded to the Foundress’ Sanctuary and read his prayer before Oyasama. He first offered his New Year’s greetings, saying, “Happy New Year, Oyasama.” Then, he continued: “As we started the third year of the ‘three years, one thousand days’ period, all of us intend to reflect anew on the progress we have made so far and deepen the awareness and joy of being used as Your instruments. To respond to Your unlimited blessings, we are committed to carrying out our tasks to the fullest in the final year by dedicating our sincerity to single-hearted salvation.”
Around the time when the prayer at the Foundress’ Sanctuary finished, the sun rose over the mountains to the east bringing the New Year’s sunlight to the Sanctuary precincts.