On the 26th, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters conducted its March Monthly Service in the Main Sanctuary with the Shinbashira presiding.<\/p>\n
Although it had rained on the previous day, the sky was clear on the day of the Service. The Home of the Parent was blessed with warm spring weather.<\/p>\n
In the Service prayer, the Shinbashira said: “We Service performers as well as church head ministers and Yoboku will devote ourselves to performing the Service and administering the Sazuke, the Divine Grant, so that we may near the intention of Oyasama as Her instruments. We are determined to put our utmost into conveying the Parent’s intention to people throughout the world.” He then said, “Please grant us Your free and unlimited blessings and guide us so that we may realize the Joyous Life even a day sooner, thus enabling everyone in the world to live happily and joyously while praising the name of God.”<\/p>\n
Following the performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements, Honbu-in Narahiko Nakata took the podium to deliver the sermon. He began by explaining the truth of the everliving Oyasama. He then quoted an Osashizu passage that reads, “You must look at the path of daily life and ponder” (March 17, 1890). He went on to say: “We are shown Oyasama’s presence in our daily life through the workings She performs by virtue of Her eternal life. We can especially feel Her presence when we devote ourselves to sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and engaging in salvation work.”<\/p>\n
He then talked about the salvation work that he had conducted between Oyasama’s 90th and 120th anniversaries. He shared some of the wonderous encounters he had with people both in Japan and overseas as well as some instances when he perceived the everliving Oyasama’s presence through the blessings shown in his salvation work.<\/p>\n
He concluded his sermon by asking the congregation to “live each day in high spirits” because “God the Parent shows us miraculous workings when our spirits are high and when our minds are positive and clear like blue skies.”<\/p>\n
The Spring Memorial Service was conducted on the following day. After the Dance with Hand Movements was performed in the Main Sanctuary, the Shinbashira proceeded to the Memorial Hall, where he read a prayer expressing gratitude for the predecessors’ painstaking efforts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On the 26th, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters conducted its March Monthly Service in the Main Sanctuary with the Shinbashira presiding. Although it had rained on the previous day, the sky was clear on the day of the Service. The Home of the Parent was blessed with warm spring weather. In the\u2026<\/p>\n