{"id":8539,"date":"2021-03-13T13:54:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T04:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=8539"},"modified":"2021-03-13T13:54:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T04:54:03","slug":"february-2021-monthly-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=8539","title":{"rendered":"February 2021 Monthly Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>February<\/span> 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. As a measure to curb <\/span>COVID-19 infections<\/span>, Church Headquarters has been urging Yoboku and other followers to refrain from attending the Monthly Service while arranging for a limited number of designated church representatives to attend the Monthly Service in the Main Sanctuary. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama first <\/span>expressed gratitude to God the Parent for revealing the truth of creation through Oyasama upon the arrival of the Promised Time out of the desire to save all people in the world as well as for guiding us toward the Joyous Life by laying the path of single-hearted salvation. Continuing, he said: \u201c<\/span>Assembled before You are the Service performers and other designated followers who are attending the Service in the Main Sanctuary representing all other followers. I ask that You, God the Parent, become spirited by looking upon the way they express their gratitude for the boundless blessings they are receiving in their everyday lives as well as how they attend the Service in high spirits while praying for the blessing of universal salvation. Perceiving the current situation as a manifestation of Your hastening for our spiritual maturity, all of us followers will seek to exert our utmost as Yoboku to grow spiritually to near the divine intention while firmly connecting our minds with Jiba and our churches so as to allow buds to sprout from the knot of the current challenges.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in <\/span>Noriaki<\/span> Nagao<\/span> took the podium to deliver the sermon.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In his sermon, Rev. Nagao pointed out the importance of <\/span>keeping our minds spirited<\/span> even <\/span>during<\/span> the <\/span>challenges<\/span> of the ongoing <\/span>COVID-19 pandemic<\/span>. \u201cIf <\/span>we have<\/span> a clear <\/span>understanding of the reason why we human beings exist<\/span>\u2014namely, <\/span>to<\/span> realize<\/span> the Joyous Life World\u2014our minds will become spirited,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He moved on to <\/span>speak<\/span> about how Tenri University’s rugby team, which had experienced a COVID-19 cluster <\/span>last year<\/span>, achieved its first ever championship title after setting a goal of winning the championship as a way to make repayment to those who had supported them. \u201cIt is precisely <\/span>when<\/span> we are in the midst of a <\/span>challenging situation<\/span> that we can <\/span>gain<\/span> a clear sense of purpose,\u201d said Rev. Nagao. \u201cIn other words, <\/span>challenging situations<\/span> allow <\/span>us to firmly settle our minds<\/span>, which in turn helps us take actions. The actions <\/span>we<\/span> take will then help <\/span>our minds become spirited<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rev. Nagao<\/span> then shared <\/span>a story<\/span> of how a Yoboku <\/span>and her family who were<\/span> on the brink of family <\/span>breakdown<\/span> due to <\/span>a<\/span> strained parent-child relationship received blessings after <\/span>settling<\/span> their minds and becoming spirited through implementing the teachings. He then <\/span>emphasized<\/span> that, despite the restrictions on church activities and Tenrikyo associations\u2019 events due to the pandemic, there are still things that we can do. <\/span>\u201cIt is<\/span> all the more important to <\/span>find joy in <\/span>what we can do rather than lamenting what we cannot,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>oward the end of his sermon, Rev. Nagao noted that, although there was no clear sign of when the pandemic would come to an end, followers of the path should not <\/span>be feeling<\/span> depressed <\/span>about the current situation<\/span>. He concluded his sermon by saying, \u201cLet us firmly <\/span>settle<\/span> our minds by setting a clear goal <\/span>while keeping our minds spirited <\/span>as we <\/span>endeavor to fulfill our<\/span> duties in our respective roles and positions in <\/span>our day-to-day lives<\/span>.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The February 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. As a measure to curb COVID-19 infections, Church Headquarters has been urging Yoboku and other followers to refrain from attending\u2026<\/p>\n

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