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 creating the world and human beings out of the desire to see us lead the Joyous Life, for watching over us with boundless parental love over a long period of time, for giving us instructions step by step in each season and at each appropriate time, and for thereby constantly guiding us along the path of spiritual growth. Continuing, he said: “As we approach the halfway point of the third year of the pre-anniversary activity period, all of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku are determined to make layer upon layer of efforts to fulfill our resolutions with renewed focus. We will strive to make further efforts to spread the fragrance of the teachings and help save others as befits the current season.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Yoshiji Matsumura took the podium to deliver the sermon.
Rev. Matsumura noted that, during the current pre-anniversary activity period, all of us followers are urged to respond to the parental heart of Oyasama by earnestly following the Divine Model in unity of mind as well as to strive to fulfill the goals we set. Rev. Matsumura called on the listeners to return to Jiba—where the everliving Oyasama resides—while feeling the joy of faith and the joy of salvation work, which we cultivate in our everyday lives.