The August Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was conducted on the 26th, with the Shinbashira presiding.<\/p>\n
Shortly before 9:00 a.m., the Shinbashira left the Staff Quarters to proceed to the Main Sanctuary. On his way, he paid his respects at the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall accompanied by other Service performers.<\/p>\n
In the Service prayer, the Shinbashira pledged on behalf of all followers, \u201cWe will repeat sincere efforts to save others, express our gratitude and joy through the attitude of hinokishin<\/em>, and aim to bring about a world of mutual help and respect in order to be in accord with Your intention.\u201d He also prayed, \u201cMay You provide us with the free and unlimited providence that brings about wondrous salvation, cause the path to spread out before us, sweep the dust from the minds of everyone in the world, and guide us toward a world brimming with joyousness as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n It was still late-summer at the Home of the Parent. The temperature on the Service day surpassed 30\u00b0 C (86\u00b0 F). <\/strong>Cirrocumulus clouds spreading across the pure azure skies hinted that autumn was just around the corner. Occasional crisp breezes blew as followers sang in unison to the Mikagura-uta.<\/p>\n After the Service, Honbu-in Hirokazu Moroi stepped up to the lectern to deliver the sermon.<\/p>\n Rev. Moroi gave an account of how some of our predecessors faced the police, who pressured them to stop performing the Service. Our predecessors replied, \u201cOyasama told us to perform the Service. Because She saved my life, there\u2019s no way I can stop.\u201d Concerning these words, he said, \u201cOne can sense in these words how our predecessors truly yearned for Oyasama.\u201d<\/p>\n After citing nos. 123 (\u201cIs Man the Object?\u201d) and 135 (\u201cWith Round Minds\u201d) from Anecdotes of Oyasama<\/em>, he said, \u201cBy savoring the parental love of Oyasama, we are moved to the point where everything She said has settled in our mind, which encourages us to resolve to handle the mind as She instructed us.\u201d<\/p>\n Rev. Moroi next touched upon how five and a half months had passed since the disaster in northeast Japan. Mentioning that members of the Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps, churches, dioceses, and districts all extended a helping hand in various shapes and forms, he expressed his conviction that the path marked with the words \u201cmutual help\u201d is the one we ought to be progressing forward on in the present moment.<\/p>\n Rev. Moroi then quoted passages from the Kakisage and the Shinbashira\u2019s sermon at this year<\/a>\u2019<\/a>s Spring Grand Service<\/a> . Regarding \u201cmutual help\u201d being an important factor in bringing the Joyous Life into reality, he said, \u201cOur efforts that seek to save others will allow God the Parent to provide us with further providence to save us.\u201d Also: \u201cThe entire congregation\u2019s efforts toward mutual help involving praying for the people in areas affected by the disaster will definitely lead to a path of great delight in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n