Tenrikyo Women\u2019s Association held its 106th convention in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters on April 19, the day after the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service.<\/p>\n
The association is continuing to promote the same slogan for spiritual maturity as in previous years: \u201cLet\u2019s follow the Divine Model and become the foundation for the Joyous Life.\u201d The association also continues to uphold the same activity guidelines, which are: \u201cAs we move toward the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, let\u2019s be thorough in ensuring that we nurture ourselves and others sincerely,\u201d \u201cLet\u2019s convey and spread the original intention of God the Parent,\u201d and \u201cLet all of us\u2014young and old alike\u2014savor the joy of salvation work.\u201d<\/p>\n
On this day, the Home of the Parent was blessed with fine weather under clear blue skies in the morning. Approximately 21,000 members from both within the country and abroad gathered for the convention. At 8:30 a.m., as the announcement for the start of registration echoed through the Sanctuary precincts, members began to arrive in groups, each led by a flag bearing the name of its chapter. At the eight registration booths set up by the entrances to the Sanctuary precincts, staff members wearing matching hats greeted everyone with bright smiles. Each participant was handed a program flier and a commemorative clear file.<\/p>\n
At 9:30 a.m., Women\u2019s Association President Harue Nakayama escorted Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama and other distinguished guests into the venue. The ceremony began with the singing of the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo. This was followed by a pledge made by a representative of new members and a progress report presented by Committee Member Yoshie Hirano. President Nakayama then delivered her address.<\/p>\n
She stressed that, if we are to receive the blessing of the Joyous Life World, it is crucial that all of us in this faith, young and old alike, put our full trust in God the Parent and Oyasama, set our minds on doing exactly as God intends, and carry it out while letting go of human thinking. Noting that continued and sustained work in this regard through all generations is essential for receiving the blessings of God the Parent, the president encouraged the listeners to convey the teachings to not only their children and grandchildren but people around them and guide and support them until they actively engage in this work. She concluded her address by saying, \u201cLet us women, who are endowed with the abilities to bear and raise, harness our innate attributes of connecting and joining to spread the fragrance of the teachings and undertake salvation work, thereby increasing the number of people who join us in the pre-anniversary activities with great enthusiasm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next, Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs Yoichiro Miyamori took the podium to read a message from the Shinbashira. The Shinbashira, in his remarks, first noted that the entire Tenrikyo community is now carrying out activities in anticipation of the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama and went on to ask the association members to strive to make progress in spiritual growth in this season so as to be able to bring joy to Oyasama, who is always guiding us with the parental love that single-heartedly desires to save all people. He concluded his address by stating, \u201cIt is my sincere hope that you will follow the faith during the \u2018three years, one thousand days\u2019 period leading up to the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama in high spirits so as to be able to become a firm foundation that can provide warm support for those who walk the path.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the Shinbashira\u2019s address, Member Representative Kiyono Uehara delivered a pledge on behalf of the members. All members then sang the association song, and the convention came to a close. In the afternoon, commemorative gatherings were organized by the respective directly supervised chapters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tenrikyo Women\u2019s Association held its 106th convention in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters on April 19, the day after the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service. The association is continuing to promote the same slogan for spiritual maturity as in previous years: \u201cLet\u2019s follow the Divine Model and become the foundation\u2026<\/p>\n