Before God the Parent, Tenri O No-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, humbly express the following prayer:
On this day, as granted to this church, we have gathered here to celebrate the October Grand Service.
As in the following words of God, “I am the Creator, the true and real God; there is preordination in this Residence. At this time, I have descended here to save all humankind. I wish to receive Miki as the shrine of God.” These were the first words declared by You, God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, through the mouth of Oyasama, Miki Nakayama.
That day was October 26, 1838. From that day on, through Oyasama, You appeared in person to teach us the one final truth, the truth that You are the true Creator and Parent of humankind. You taught us the Reason for our creation, which was from Your desire to have all humankind lead the Joyous Life, helping one another through the marvelous path of single-hearted salvation.
To attain this, You also taught us the Joyous Service with the intent to manifest once more, the marvelous power by which humankind and the world were created where there was no form. Through the sincere performance of this Service, the world will be reconstructed as the world of the Joyous Life, which is fully in accord with the intent of God the Parent.
Each of us here today, relying on You, intend to perform the Service in harmony and joy, becoming one with the mind of God. Please accept our spirited minds of unity and let the joy of the harmonious union of God and humankind overflow.
Through Your blessing, eight persons returned to Jiba in the month of September bringing the number to 24 persons who have returned to Jiba this year from Pearl Church. On September 27, 3 persons attended the Pearl Church Autumn Memorial Service and 3 persons attended the Mission Headquarters Memorial Service. We thank you deeply for your divine care and guidance.
We continue to engage in nioigake and salvation work. Please bless us with the strength and courage to reflect on our attitude and endeavor to help others and show them the path to the Joyous Life where people of the whole world may help each other as brothers and sisters.
May we, Your children, in this 172nd year of Tenrikyo, come ever closer to understanding Your intentions, so that we may become “one” with You and manifest the Joyous Life as intended for all humanity.
In union with the congregation I humbly pray may it be so.