![\"\"](\"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20160726_July_Monthly_Service.jpg\" "\\"20160726_July_Monthly_Service\\"")
<\/a>The rainy season ended in mid-July and hot sunny days lasted for a few days in the Home of the Parent until it rained on the morning of the 26th. During the Service performance, the rain let up and a cool breeze started blowing in the areas around the Sanctuary precincts where followers joined together in singing the songs for the Service with their minds in unison. The festive and vibrant atmosphere permeated the Sanctuary precincts as there were a great number of people including students and staff members wearing matching T-shirts, members of the Boys and Girls Hinokishin Corps dressed in their uniforms, and leaders and children of many pilgrimage groups, all of whom appeared excited as the Children\u2019s Pilgrimage to Jiba was about to get underway.<\/p>\nFollowing the Service performance, Honbu-in Yoshiji Matsumura took the podium to deliver the sermon. He began by saying that, with the Oyasama 130th Anniversary Service having been observed in January, now is the season to make a committed effort to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings and help save others so that we will be blessed with many new Yoboku who will strive to realize the Joyous Life World as soon as possible. He then asked, \u201cHow can we make further spiritual growth as Yoboku and what can we do to guide and nurture others into becoming true Yoboku?\u201d<\/p>\n
To answer these questions, Honbu-in Matsumura drew on the Shinbashira\u2019s address at this year\u2019s leaders meeting of the Boys and Girls Association where the Shinbashira mentioned the three guiding principles for following the Divine Model of Oyasama\u2014namely the \u201cspirit of single-heartedness with God,\u201d \u201cattitude of hinokishin<\/em>,\u201d and \u201cunity of mind\u201d\u2014 and explained that \u201cthe Boys and Girls Association Pledge paraphrases these three principles in easy-to-understand terms for children.\u201d Honbu-in Matsumura said that \u201cthe Boys and Girls Association Pledge is helpful not only for children but also for adults who are taking the first few steps in following the path,\u201d and he went on to give a detailed explanation about the three guiding principles.<\/p>\n In order to help others settle Oyasama\u2019s teachings in mind and make progress in their spiritual growth, it is important that we make full use of our mind, words, and actions, said Honbu-in Matsumura. He then said, \u201cIf we are to make progress along the path of single-hearted salvation, we must continue making a committed and sustained effort to convey the teachings to others.\u201d<\/p>\n He stated that the Oyasama 130th Anniversary Children\u2019s Pilgrimage to Jiba provides children with a great opportunity to return to Jiba and come into Oyasama\u2019s presence to express their daily gratitude in this important year of Oyasama\u2019s anniversary. He concluded his sermon by saying: \u201cAt the \u2018Morning Service\u2019 event during the Children\u2019s Pilgrimage to Jiba, children recite the Boys and Girls Association Pledge to God the Parent and Oyasama as well as to the Shibashira. In order to prevent the pledge from becoming an empty promise, those of us in nurturing positions and roles bear a responsibility to demonstrate the teachings ourselves, explain the teachings concisely, and make a painstaking effort to help children understand the teachings. May I ask you to do all of these in providing guidance and nurture to future Yoboku.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On July 26, the July Monthly Service was conducted at the Main Sanctuary of Church Headquarters with the Shinbashira presiding as chief officiant.<\/p>\n