Konko Mission of Wahiawa 207 Muliwai Avenue, Wahiawa, HI. 96786 October 2013, Volume 21, No. 238 &  : (808) 621-6667 Cell: (808) 223-3448  [email protected] URL: http://konkomissionshawaii.org/WahiawaMain.htm

WAHIAWA KONKO MISSION MONTHLY SCHEDULE Sunday School Oath

October 2013 1 Tue -Monthly Service for Tenchi Kane No Kami-Sama I will advance my faith through

(7:30 pm) 天地金乃神様 月例祭 understanding the Founder’s teachings

4 Fri -KMH Headquarters Pilgrimage Group return from Jpn. and will strive to become a more useful

6 Sun -Church clean up for Autumn Grand Ceremony (8 am) person to society.

11 Fri -Wahiawa Church Autumn Grand Ceremony for the Sincerity is the essence of my faith, and Founder, Ikigami Konko Daijin-Sama its basic principles are courtesy, kindness, 生神金光大神様 御大祭 (6:30 pm) and devotion in everything I do. 12 Sat -Ehime Kenjin-kai Meeting @Natsunoya (11 am) 13 Sun -Sunday Service (9 am)

-Honolulu Church Autumn Grand Ceremony (11 am)

14 Mon -HCRP Meeting @Gedatsu Church (1:30 pm) 18 Fri -Monthly Volunteer Activity @Wahiawa Gen. Hospital

th (10-10:45 am) *100 Visit!!

20 Sun -Sunday Service (9 am) -Waipahu Church Autumn Grand Ceremony (11 am)

25 Fri -Church clean up (9 am) Date: Friday, October 11, 2013 26 Sat -Chorus Practice @HNL Church (10:30 am-12:30 pm)

Time: 6:30 p.m. 27 Sun -Monthly Memorial Service (9 am) 月例霊祭 Place: Konko Mission of Wahiawa -Share Okage Stories (Till 11 am) Sermon: Rev. Edna Kazuko Yano -HCRP Peace Prayer at Gedatsu Church (4 pm) Kibimai Sacred Dance: Ms. Keala Takahashi *Prayers by various faiths. Refreshments will follow. Dinner: Please stay for fellowship dinner after. 30 Wed -Halloween Pumpkin Carving (4 pm) *Refreshments too

31 Thu -Church clean up (9 am) *Happy Halloween!! th Please join us as we celebrate the 130 spiritual

birthday of the Founder, Ikigami Konko Daijin. November 2013 Many people have been saved through the 1 Fri -Monthly Service for Tenchi Kane no Kami-Sama Founder’s teachings. He also has taught us of the (9:00 am) 天地金乃神様 月例祭 divine favors of the Universe and its eternal life. 3 Sun -Sunday Service (9 am) *Share Okage Stories (till 11 am) Let us give thanks to the roots. Please make every possible effort to attend this important celebration. Hawaii Group visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial 9/28/13

Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Time: 4:00 pm

Place: Konko Mission of Wahiawa

BYOP: Bring Your Own Pumpkin!! We will provide the tools. But if you have your

own, please bring them too. Light refreshments will be served. Let’s

Carve our Jack ‘O Lantern Have a safe and fun

Halloween!!!

Konko Mission of Wahiawa Annual Schedule for 2013

11/10 Sun -Hilo Church Autumn Grand Service 11 am

11/17 Sun -Wailuku Church Autumn Grand Service 11 am th 11/24 Sun -Rev. Kikue Kodama’s 16 Memorial Svc. @HNL 9 am st 12/22 Sun -Rev. Haruko Takahashi’s 41 Memorial Svc. 10 am 12/29 Sun -End of the Year Service 9 am

12/30 Mon-Wahiawa Church Mochi Pounding 8 am

The KMH Japan Pilgrimage Tour from 9/27-10/4/2013 in celebration

th Of the Founder, Konko Daijin’s 130 Spiritual Birthday

Happy Birthday

To all the people born in October Please continue to receive

Infinite divine blessings from

Tenchi Kane no Kami-Sama and

Ikigami Konko Daijin-Sama

Rev. Heiki Konko (5th Spiritual Head of Konkokyo)

Rev. Sachiko Yasutake (Konko Church of Amagi) Jill Michie Yano Jane Suwa Deborah Amado Hugh Noguchi Michelle Noguchi Chason Pangorang Konko Missions in Hawaii Headquarters Pilgrimage Group 2013 (Picture by Headquarters)

Donna and Andrea Toyofuku visits the Headquarters for the first time!

I was able to visit seven churches on this trip, including the Headquarters Our Pilgrimage: These are the various other places that we went to, as a group and as an individual: Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Isuzugawa Church, Miyajima Floating Shrine, Meoto -Iwa, Ise Grand Shrine (Geku and Naigu), Kyoto, Amagasaki Church, Negaino Miya, Kawanishi Church, Kyoto sunrise tour to Nijojo, Kinkakuji, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Todaiji Daibutsu-den, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Konkokyo Headquarters, Minami-yahata Church, Amagi Church, Kumamoto to visit the gravesite of the Rev. Santaro & Sueka Sonoda. In both Miyajima and Nara-Park, there were tame, wild deer that we could pet and feed. They were so cute!

Editor’s Notes Konko Daijin to be my guide. That day, I visited the Konko Church of Amagasaki and the Negainomiya Dear Reader, (AKA: Momoyama Church) both in Osaka, and the Hello! I hope this message finds you in a state of Konko Church of Kawanishi in Hyogo prefecture. I happiness and overall wellbeing. I just came back from left around lunch time, and checked in to my hotel at Japan! I just want you to know that the KMH Japan around 11:00 at night. It was a truly wonderful day, to be Pilgrimage Tour was a totally awesome experience. I came able to meet the sensei of the various Konko Churches and back feeling very refreshed and renewed in time for the Grand learn from their amazing faith. Early morning the next day, Ceremony Season to begin in Hawaii. That’s the virtue of we went on the JTB Kyoto Sunrise Tour, and visited many visiting the Konkokyo Headquarters. A total of 33 people from shrines, temples and historic locations. Konkokyo Hawaii connections went to attend the 130th The day after, we went to the main destination, which Memorial Anniversary of the Founder, Ikigami Konko Daijin. was the Konkokyo Headquarters in Okayama. The I left on September 26th and returned on October 4. scenery was quite different from the hustle and bustle of We had the opportunity to visit various other spiritual the city. There was much greenery, and peaceful silence. locations as well. The first location we went to was the The spiritual energy in Konko was in abundance. I was Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. There we offered a total there to bathe in the blessings of Kami, much like an of 2015 origami paper cranes. A thousand were offered onsen hot spring for the soul. I felt rejuvenated. from the Apostles of Konko Daijin and supporters and the From the Wahiawa Church, three people (Mrs. other 1015 were offered from the Dharma School Teachers Donna Toyofuku, her daughter Andrea and I) were able to of Hawaii. As I led the prayer at the main sacred sanctuary of attend the 130th Anniversary since the Founder’s passing. Hiroshima Memorial, I was suddenly overwhelmed with a The Headquarters is an amazing place. We intended to say sense of awe. At the moment I clasped my hands in prayer, I many things to the main mediator, but once we go there, could feel the energy from all the victims of the deceased who all that comes out of our mouths were, “Thank you, we were killed instantly from the atomic bomb. I can describe it have made it safely.” and nothing more. It’s as if like a strong magnet instantly attracting millions of metal everything we ever wanted to say or confess was instantly particles. It was an unforgettable experience. I felt at peace. I absorbed by Konko Sama before we even opened our pray that the spirits of the deceased can somehow be saved. mouths. That night, as we returned back to our hotels and I fell We had a lively dinner party with the ministers of the asleep, I was suddenly awoken at 2:55 a.m. by someone, or Headquarters as well as other members from foreign something tapping me on my right flank…”tap tap…tap tap.” countries. And we also listened to two lectures while we The first two taps were light and like a dream, and I didn’t pay were at Gohonbu. We appreciate the hospitality that we any attention. The next two taps were prominent. I don’t have received. know what it was, but I felt it must be a spirit from Hiroshima The very next morning, we all woke up at 3:00 a.m. for hehehe . I was surprised, but just said, “Thank you” and the morning procession of Konko Sama to the main went back to sleep again. worship hall. And that day, we all attended the actual 130th The following few days were so busy. We jumped from Anniversary Ceremony in the Grand Ceremonial Hall. place to place, visiting shrines and temples. But it was a It was a great feeling to be in the service. Three of my once in a lifetime experience. Gakuin classmates were also alongside me in the row In the 2008 I created a vision board. One of the images that I sat. I posted on my vision board was that of a cute deer. I have As soon as the service ended, I rushed to the train never seen one in real life, so it was my vision to be able to station to head to Fukuoka with Revs. Tetsuro and meet and pet one. Lo and behold, I was surrounded by them Mitsuko Yasutake of Waipahu Church. Along the way, I on this Japan trip at both Miyajima and Nara Park. visited the Konko Church of Minamiyahata and met with Another majestic place we were privileged to go to was the Rev. Seiichi Matsuda and his wife Yuki sensei. Rev. Ise Grand Shrine. It’s THE main shrine that worships the Sun Matsuda gave me a ride to the Konko Church of Amagi. Goddess Amaterasu Oomikami. And this is the shrine that The final place I visited was the grave of the Rev. Santaro Konko Daijin visited on foot! We left the hotel at 5:30 in the and Sueka Sonoda in Kumamoto. They were the founding morning, so we could experience the cool crisp air and sacred ministers of the Waipahu Church. My trip ended safely as I energy of the morning, and rise of the sun from the horizon— returned back to Hawaii on October 4th. Soo many things Amaterasu. The premises at that hour were not crowded with to be thankful for. So many things to talk about. It was an people, and it felt like our group was able to abundantly soak experience of a lifetime!! Thank you Rev. Yomisu Oya for in the sacredness of that place. arranging the pilgrimage tour! We also went to Kyoto, which was so full of beauty. We See you at the Godaisai Autumn Grand Ceremony! It’s had a free day in Kyoto, which gave me the opportunity to a Celebration of Blessings on Friday, October 11 at 6:30 pm! explore parts of Japan that I have never been to alone. I was very anxious of getting lost, but all along the way, I prayed to Aloha, Edna