Inside: February Monthly Service Sermon: by Rev. Yoichiro Miyamori: p. 4 BGA Leadership Camp, New Year Park Cleanup & BBQ Picnic: p. 12 WA Commemorative Event: p. 13 TCC Cleanup Hinokishin: p. 14 Tenri Kyoko Gakuen Study Abroad: p. 15 No. 223 March 2010 When this dust is completely swept away, Nothing will remain but universal salvation. Ofudesaki II: 20 Boy’s and Girl’s Association junior leaders: Kyko Kawasaki and Eric Miyauchi learn the art of taro pounding from Kumu Daniel Anthony of Mana ‘ai Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii Message from the head of the Overseas Department In the 173rd Year of the Teaching, February 26 For the past few days, we have been experiencing warm, out-of-season weather here in Oyasato. However, the skies show that there is a chance for rain today, and al- though it was not ideal weather for walking, many, many followers of the path re- turned to Jiba as the February Monthly Service was performed joyously in unity with the Shinbashira as the core. In the service prayer, the Shinbashira stated, ―All church head ministers, Yoboku and staff members of Church Headquarters alike must focus on the source of insecuri- ties and distress which are caused by the current situation of the world. We must widely convey the desire of God the Parent to people who are not yet familiar with the teachings, so that we may take a step closer to all people of the world by mutually helping one another as brothers and sisters. We must resolve to press forward the path of single-hearted salvation through the Service and the Sazuke.‖ Further, He stated, ―Sanctioned as a branch of the Jiba, the Tenrikyo church shall be a place where each person connected with the church can join their minds of sincerity together, and ad- vance their duties toward the Joyous Life in a training ground at their respective loca- tions. So that we may be useful in the construction of a peaceful and harmonious world, on behalf of everyone present, I humbly pray for God‘s guidance.‖ Following the Service, the sermon was given by Honbu-in, Rev. Takanori Nagao. Rev. Nagao spoke about the first head minister of Kawaramachi Grand Church, Rev. Genjiro Fukaya, who is always quoted as saying, ―I am so thankful to God, this is a splendid path.‖ With this quote as a basis, He spoke about why he was so thank- ful to God and how this path is splendid. While quoting from the Ofudesaki, Mikagura-uta, Doctrine of Tenrikyo and the Life of Oyasama, Rev. Nagao explained that we are thankful for God the Parent be- cause God is the original and true Parent and as the fundamental teachings of this Continued on Page 10 2 February Monthly Service Prayer Before You, God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, who resides in this shrine, I (Michihito Hamada, bishop of the Mission Headquarters of Hawaii), pray with reve- rence: As we live in this world taught to us as the bosom of God the Parent, we con- stantly receive Your over-flowing grace and blessings, which grants us the free use of our bodies as we advance toward the realization of the Joyous Life world. These boundless blessings are truly more than we can expect. We deeply express our grati- tude for Your grace, as we proceed in high spirits toward the path of sincerity, which we are shown through the Divine Model of Oyasama. Today is the day we are granted to conduct the February monthly service at this mission headquarters. The service performers will unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously in high spirits. On this day we are blessed with the presence of Reverend Yoichiro Miyamori, head of the Overseas Department. As You view the brothers and sisters of the path who have looked forward to this day, singing the songs of the service in union, with hearts filled with gratitude for Your parental love, we hope that You can be spirited as well. Furthermore, from February 1st till February 12th, 19 students and 3 instruc- tors from Tenri Kyoko Gakuen High School came to Hawaii to study and experience the English language and culture while under the care of various churches and mis- sion stations. The sincere care received by the church home stay families enabled them to advance in spiritual maturity and return to Jiba. Yesterday, Rev. Miyamori conducted an otefuri study session for service per- formers. As the service is the foundation for world salvation, we will unite our hearts as one and perform the service with firm resolve. We vow to exert our effort for those who are troubled and worried that they have nowhere to turn to, and we vow to imbed in our hearts, the joy of following un- waveringly, the path of sincerity for generations to come. We further resolve to devote ourselves in the effort for single-hearted salvation by planting seeds that will enable the realization of the Joyous Life. May You, God the Parent, accept our sincerity, and ask tha t all people of the world may find the joy of living and guide us toward recon- structing the world where we can spend our days living in harmony by helping one another. Together with everyone present, I pray for these blessings. 3 Mission HQ February Monthly Service Sermon Rev. Yoichiro Miyamori In front of the Shinbashira is a choco- late ice cream, and in front of you is a va- nilla ice cream. You actually want a spoon- ful of the chocolate ice cream that is in front of him. Try to imagine that you want the chocolate one even if it is not your fa- vorite. But it is the Shinbashira eating the chocolate one, so it is not easy for you to ask for a spoonful. You are thinking it would be rude to ask him for such a thing. Then, what would be the best way to have the Shinbashira say, ―Would you like some of this chocolate ice cream?‖ Think about it for a second. What My congratulations on your lively Feb- would you do? ruary monthly service today at the Mission For you to enjoy the Shinbashira‘s ice Headquarters of Hawaii. I very much ap- cream, wouldn‘t it be best to offer your ice preciate this opportunity to join you today. cream first, saying, ―Would you like some Having been asked by the bishop to deliver of this vanilla ice cream?‖ Then, I am sure this sermon, I have come to the podium. he would say, ―Please let me offer you May I ask for your attention for a while. some of this in return.‖ Now everyone, please try to imagine. If you desire something from others but You are now eating an ice cream with the don‘t offer them anything, your wish will Shinbashira alone, sitting face to face. Are never be met. you picturing this scene now? You If you get caught up in your desire, you shouldn‘t be too confident that such a thing end up not getting what you want. When would never happen to you. We never you release your desire, your desire will be know what will happen in our life, or as met. the saying goes, ―We don't know what's If you offer your effort first, it will be around the corner.‖ returned to you as merit. Such is the truth 4 February Monthly Service Sermon of heaven. To come into accord with the hearted attitude while thinking about some- truth of heaven, you only need to follow the thing else? You may not feel good and may path of natural spontaneity; so it may be not want to listen to the person. On the oth- easier than you might think. er hand, if the person asks for a favor in a We all want to receive the blessings of single-hearted and earnest manner, we God. We all want God‘s protection. How would like to respond to the person‘s re- can we make it possible for God to exert quest. divine providence for us? God says, ―Because of My love for you, The service performed today is the Feb- My children, the Parent shortened Her life ruary monthly service. What exactly do we by twenty-five years to step out and save do on these monthly occasions? The answer the world from now.‖ is to play the nine musical instruments, sing The ―service‖ we performed today is the songs for the service, and perform the what Oyasama pleaded with us to conduct Dance with the Hand Movements. Such is by whatever means necessary. She spent the ―service‖ we perform. It would not be fifty years going through hardships and dif- good enough, however, to play the instru- ficulties to have us perform it, and She even ments well, sing the songs with a good shortened Her term of life by twenty-five voice, and dance without mistakes. If the years to persuade us to perform it. She is tangible form were the only important begging us to do it. thing, we could hire experts in music and For those of you in Hawaii, it may be dance and ask them to perform, but the ser- difficult to perform the service while wear- vice we are taught is not like that. The im- ing the service kimono, singing in Japanese, portant thing is what frame of mind we are and playing the instruments that have an in when we perform the ―service.‖ That is, oriental feel.