The April 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 constantly watching over us children out of the deep parental love as well as for providing us with blessings step by step at each stage and for giving us instructions in each season. Continuing, he said: “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku are determined to carry out our tasks in an ever more proactive manner as appropriate for the current season. We will make sincere and repeated efforts to impart the fragrance of the teachings and help others be saved as we strive to advance our spiritual growth.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Zenkichi Tanaka took the podium to deliver the sermon.
Speaking about the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred about five years ago, Rev. Tanaka noted that all the events and circumstances that appear are the workings of God the Parent and are shown to us because they are necessary at the time. He then said, “I feel we are being called to reflect carefully on the footsteps of our predecessors who followed the path despite severe interference by the authorities due to the lack of official recognition by the government at the time.”
Rev. Tanaka went on to note that, after having gone through the pandemic, we are now carrying out the pre-anniversary activities for the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama. Let us be ever grateful that we can now perform ordinary things as a matter of course, always keeping in mind the salvation of others as we walk this path, he said.
Rev. Tanaka concluded his sermon by saying, “Let us firmly sow seeds of sincerity in this season, continue our efforts of nurturing, and look forward to the blessing of seeing them blossom and bear fruit.”