October Grand Service Prayer 2018

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 conduct the October Grand Service to commemorate the Teachings’ day of origin.

As in the following words of God, “I am God of OriginGod in Truth. There is causality 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, the Pearl Church Autumn Memorial Service was faithfully conducted on September 22 with 12 persons in attendance. The BGA General Meeting and Service Performance was held on the following day September 23 at MHQ of Hawaii with 10 persons from Pearl Church attending. The annual All Tenrikyo Nioigake Day was conducted on September 30 with 4 from Pearl Church. In addition, we have engaged in Kamina Nagashi in Waikiki with the Mission Headquarters group. We thank you deeply for your love and care and we pray for your continued guidance.

During these past weeks we have experienced hurricanes and earthquakes, in Japan, Philippines, Florida, Carolinas and here in Hawaii as well. As we pray for the victims, survivors and their families, please grant us compassion and resolve that we may always extend that helping hand.
With the Shinbashira as the core, we continue to engage in nioigake and salvation work.

May we, Your children, in this 181st 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.

Monthly Service Sermon – August 2017

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, as we receive Your overflowing grace and blessings, which grants us the free use our bodies, we advance toward the realization of the joyous life world as you guide us in our spiritual development. We are forever grateful for these blessings and we express our gratitude day and night as we apply our efforts in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work. Today is the day we are granted to conduct the August monthly service at Pearl Church. The service performers will now unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits. As you observe the brothers and sisters of the path who have looked forward to this day singing the songs of the service in unison, with hearts filled with gratitude for Your parental love, we hope that You can be spirited as well.

We give thanks for the successful completion of the annual Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba in which one member of our church served as Boy’s & Girl’s Hinokishin Corps counselor. We give thanks for the opportunity do hinokishin in the community by doing yard work, for the elderly and disabled. We thank you deeply for these blessings as we strive to convey the teachings to as many people as possible. Later this month the annual Tenrikyo Bazaar will be held on August 27 with members of this church helping in preparation hinokishin, ohagi making, shuttle van driving, parking, bubble drink booth and cleanup. Also next month on September 24, we hope to be joining other sister churches under Tengen Bunkyokai in participating in the 2 nd Tengen Ojibagaeri Taikai (Jiba Pilgrimage Convention) activity. We pray for safe and successful events.

In this 180 th year of Tenrikyo, we vow to continue to work together with a unity of mind engaging in hinokishin and salvation work and encourage as much people as possible to return to Jiba. We pray for the victims and survivors of conflicts and disasters in the world; that they may have faith and resolve to overcome their grief and suffering.

With the Shinbashira as the core, we pledge to make sincere efforts in our daily lives to truly follow the Divine Model of Oyasama.

We pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others. We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where we all help one another as brothers and sisters. With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the August Monthly Service.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.

Monthly Service Sermon – February 2014

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, You have nurtured and guided us over many long years since You created humankind out of Your desire to see us live the Joyous Life. Also, with the arrival of the Promised Time, you received Oyasama as your living shrine and revealed the truth of the creation in detail, taught the service, showed us free and unlimited blessings, and guided us toward the path of the Joyous Life. We are forever grateful for these blessings and we express our gratitude day and night as we spiritedly apply our efforts toward the path of single-heartedness with God.

Today is the day we are granted to conduct the February monthly service and we also have the honor of Bishop Yamanaka and his family in attendance. In the presence of Bishop Yamanaka and his family, the service performers will unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits. Please accept our prayers as we brothers and sisters of this Path have looked forward to this day and have gathered before You to sing the Mikagura-uta.

Due to your blessing we were able to contribute and assist at the recent Boys and Girls Association

Leadership Camp with three adult volunteers and one attendees and the New Year Park Cleanup & Barbecue Picnic held last month with thirteen persons attending the park cleanup from Pearl Church. We give thanks that an average of three persons are helping with tree trimming and yard work for the elderly in our community. We also give thanks to be blessed with one home stay student from Tenri University and two students from the Institute of Intensive English. We continue with resolve to make sincere efforts in our daily lives to truly follow the Divine Model of Oyasama.

Last month, we have just started second year the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary and the Mission Headquarters will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary in May in the presence of the Shinbashira. Also later this year, Pearl Church will be celebrating its 80th Anniversary in September. We resolve to walk the Path of single-hearted salvation such that we may be blessed with successful commemorations.

With the Shinbashira as the core, we pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others. We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where we all help one another as brothers and sisters. With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the February Monthly Service today, in this 177th Year of Tenrikyo.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.

Spring Grand Service 2014

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, wish to humbly express the following prayer:

On January 26, 1887, while the first followers of the path fulfilled Your request for the Service to be performed by all means, our beloved Oyasama opened the portals and hid Her physical form, to work forever, in spirit, for the salvation of all humankind.

In commemoration of this event, today is set aside for the performance of the January Grand Service. We, yoboku and members of this church, have assembled before You, to perform the service in high spirits and in unison with the harmonious sounds of the musical instruments. We pray, that as You look upon us, our joy may be truly shared with You.

As we look forward to this New Year, we remember and give thanks for your deep parental love through the blessings of miraculous healings, and the many people who have attended the various church activities during this past year. With the pastor of this church serving as chairman of the Boys and Girls Association Hawaii chapter, activities were successfully held without serious accidents.

Last year,

  • an average of twenty-four persons attended the Pearl Church monthly service.
  • Thirteen persons from Pearl Church participated in the Boys and Girls Association park cleanup and BBQ picnic in January;
  • eight persons helped at the all Tenri Cultural Center Cleanup Hinokishin in February;
  • two children and eight adults attended and helped at the annual Boys & Girls Association Spring Camp and General Meeting;
  • seven persons attended the Boys and Girls Association Oyasama Birthday Activity,
  • twenty-seven persons from Pearl Church participated in the All Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day at Honolulu Zoo in April,
  • sixteen persons attended the annual Tenrikyo Picnic,
  • 9 persons returned to Jiba this past year, including 5 participants in the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba,
  • twenty-two persons helped at the Annual Tenrikyo Bazaar in which the pastor served as chairman, and
  • fifteen persons attended the Young Men’s Association-Women’s Association-Young Women’s Club Joint General Meeting.
  • An average of three persons helped with the weekly yard work on neglected sidewalks and yards of the elderly and physically challenged throughout the year, as well as at the Tenri Cultural Center.
  • Also, a special tree trimming hinokishin was done at MHQ by six Pearl Church members on November 11th.
  • The Sazuke was administered at least 274 times in 2013.
  • The pastor of this church continued to serve as president of the Jarrett Middle School Foundation for the second year.
  • The biggest accomplishment last year was the acquisition of the back property which was purchased on November 22nd with the members’ sincere efforts and unity of mind. We give thanks for all these wonderful blessings.

This month we will start the second of the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary since Oyasama hid her physical self. The Shinbashira has issued Instruction Three in the hope that we yoboku and followers will make decisive efforts to grow spiritually and conduct our activities with a unity of mind.

Also in this 177th Year of Tenrikyo, we will be celebrating the Hawaii Mission Headquarters 60th Anniversary on May 17th and in September, Pearl Church‘s 80th Anniversary. In order that we may observe these anniversaries with unity of mind and spiritual growth, we resolve to engage in nioigake and salvation work to plant seeds of sincerity during this seasonable time towards Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary.

Please accept our sincerity as we strive to become single-hearted in our efforts of salvation work. We shall spread the fragrance of the Path even further, so that the minds of all in the world may become awakened to the Truth that You teach. We pray that our actions throughout this New Year will bring us yet closer, to the goal of the Joyous Life.

In union with the congregation, I humbly pray, may it be so.

December Monthly Service Prayer

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, we are grateful for Your constant protection and gradual instruction that guides us on the path to spiritual growth.  In this last month of this 176th year of Tenrikyo we give thanks for the many and continuous blessings we have received throughout the year.

Today, for this December monthly service at Pearl Church, the service performers will now unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyfully and in high spirits.  Please accept our prayers as we brothers and sisters of this Path have looked forward to this day and have gathered before You to sing the Mikagura-uta.

Through your blessing an average of three persons performed weekly yard work services for the elderly and disabled in the community, including four persons who trimmed trees at Mission Headquarters for two days in November.

Twenty-three persons attended the thanksgiving service and dinner held on November 28 at Pearl Church. Lastly we give thanks on the successful acquisition of the back property which has doubled the size of the church property. The addition will initially provide housing for staff and parking for members. We thank those instrumental in the purchase.

In the remaining days of this year we vow to work together engaging in hinokishin and salvation work with a unity of mind and we look forward to the New Year, the second of the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary in 2016.  We have since received Instruction Three from the Shinbashira and vow to take the words to heart and respond to Oyasama’s boundless parental love with decisiveness.

We pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others.  We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where all people help one another as brothers and sisters.  With our minds in unity toward the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the last monthly service of the 176th Year of Tenrikyo.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.

November Monthly Service Prayer 2013

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, in this month of Thanksgiving, we express our sincerest appreciation for Your constant protection and gradual instruction that guides us on the path to spiritual growth. In gratitude, we are all striving for the sake of single-hearted salvation while leaning on the ever-living Oyasama.

Today, for this November monthly service at Pearl Church, we give thanks for being kept alive by your divine grace and being blessed by your love and protection. The service performers will now unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits. Please accept our prayers as we brothers and sisters of this Path have looked forward to this day and have gathered before You to sing the Mikagura-uta.

Through your blessing and guidance one person from Pearl Church attended the Tengen Branch Church October Grand Service, the Church Headquarters October Grand Service and also the Young Men’s Convention held on October 23rd, 26th and 27th respectively. We give thanks that an average of four persons helped with yard work for the elderly and disabled in our community. Twenty persons participated in the Trick or Treat for UNICEF activity in Waikiki including five from Pearl Church and we are encouraging people to make donations using the UNICEF collection boxes. We thank you deeply to these wonderful blessings.

Although there is a two week delay, our effort in acquiring the back property is progressing smoothly and we give thanks for your blessing and providence. We resolve to make good use of the land in bringing people together in unity of mind and advance the construction of our mind and the Joyous Life world.

It’s been one year since we have received Instruction Three from the Shinbashira. We vow to follow the words of the Shinbashira as we work towards commemorating Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary in 2016. We pray for the victims and survivors of conflicts and disasters in the world; that they may have faith and resolve to overcome their grief and suffering.

We pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others. We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where we all help one another as brothers and sisters. With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the November Monthly Service today.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.

October Grand Service Prayer 2013

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 conduct the October Grand Service to commemorate the Teachings’ day of origin.

As in the following words of God, “I am God of Origin, God in Truth. There is causality 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, our annual Pearl Church garage sale was conducted September 22 with 21 members and friends helping in various capacities. Net proceeds amounted to $1,000 of which 50% will be donated to the Mission Headquarters of Hawaii for the reroofing fund. The Pearl Church Autumn Memorial Service was faithfully conducted on September 28 with 9 attendees and the All Tenrikyo Nioigake Day with 11 participants from Pearl Church.   An average of four persons helped with the weekly yard service. In addition, we have engaged in Kamina Nagashi in Waikiki on several occasions.  Also, by Your providence, we have an opportunity to acquire the back property to better serve the community and advance our mission. We thank you deeply for your love and care and we pray for your continued guidance as we work towards this goal with our minds in unity.

In this first year of the three year of the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary, we continue to engage in nioigake and salvation work and vow to follow Shinbashira’s words as expressed in Instruction Three.

May we, Your children, in this 176th 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.

Monthly Service Prayer July 2013

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, as we receive Your overflowing grace and blessings, which grants us the free use of our bodies, we advance toward the realization of the joyous life world as you guide us in our spiritual development. We are forever grateful for these blessings and we express our gratitude day and night as we apply our effort in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work.

Today is the day we are granted to conduct the July monthly service at Pearl Church. Taking to heart the teaching: “If the mind is sincere, the performance of any kind of Service will all bring salvation,” (Ofudesaki VIII: 3) the service performers will now unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits. As you observe the brothers and sisters of the path who have looked forward to this day singing the songs of the service in unison with hearts filled with gratitude for Your parental love, we hope that You can be spirited as well.

Through your blessing, sixteen persons from Pearl Church, attended the Annual Tenrikyo Picnic on July 4th. Also, one person from Pearl Church is auditing the Hawaii One-month Spiritual Development Course. We continue with the community yard service helping the elderly maintain their yards and neglected sidewalks.

Later this month, the pastor of this church will lead a group of 44 persons including 4 from Pearl Church in this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba as the chairman of the Hawaii Boys & Girls Association. Our church successor Moses Nakao was appointed chairman of the Hawaii Young Men’s Association last month and he is presently attending the Brazil Young Men’s Association 60th Anniversary in Sao Paulo.

We give thanks that members of this church are taking active roles in church activities and the community bringing substance and spiritual growth to the church. We thank you deeply for these blessings as we strive to convey the teachings to as many people as possible.

As we help those in suffering, we pray for the victims and survivors of conflicts and disasters throughout the world; that they may have faith and resolve to overcome their grief and suffering.

In this first year of the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary in 2016 we vow to follow the words of the Shinbashira as expressed in Instruction Three and continue to work together engaging in hinokishin and salvation work with a unity of mind and encourage as much people as possible to return to Jiba.

With the Shinbashira as the core we vow to make sincere efforts in our daily lives to truly follow the Divine Model of Oyasama.

We pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others. We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where we all help one another as brothers and sisters. With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the July Monthly Service.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.

June Monthly Service Prayer 2013

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, as we receive Your overflowing grace and blessings, which grants us the free use our bodies, we advance toward the realization of the joyous life world as you guide us in our spiritual development.  We are forever grateful for these blessings and we express our gratitude day and night as we apply our efforts in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work.

Today is the day we are granted to conduct the June monthly service at Pearl Church.  The service performers will now unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits.  As you observe the brothers and sisters of the path who have looked forward to this day singing the songs of the service in unison with hearts filled with gratitude for Your warm parental love, we hope that You can be spirited as well.

Through your blessing our stone pavement project on the mauka side of Pearl Church is progressing satisfactorily with members and friends contributing their sincere hinokishin. Also, an average of three persons helped with the weekly yard work for the elderly and disabled.  Last month we were able to welcome the new Bishop Yamanaka and his family when they arrived on May 10 and later this Saturday, we will be conducting the New Bishop Installation Service in the presence of the Shinbashira.  In addition the Shinbashira will be visiting several churches during his stay here, one of which will be Pearl Church this Friday.  We are deeply honored and we wish to welcome him with joy and Aloha.  We thank you deeply for these blessings as we strive to convey the teachings to as many people as possible.

In this 6th month of the 176th Year of Tenrikyo, the first year of the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary we vow to follow Shinbashira’s words as expressed in Instruction Three.  We pray for the victims and survivors of conflicts and disasters in the world; that they may have faith and resolve to overcome their grief and suffering.

We pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others.  We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where we all help one another as brothers and sisters.  With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the June Monthly Service.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.

March Monthly Service Prayer 2013

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, (Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church), pray with reverence:

God the Parent, You have nurtured and guided us over many long years since You created humankind out of Your desire to see human beings live the Joyous Life.  Also, coinciding with the arrival of the Promised Time, you accepted Oyasama as your living shrine and revealed the truth of the creation in detail, taught the service, showed us free and unlimited blessings, and guided us toward the path of the Joyous Life. We are forever grateful for these blessings and we express our gratitude day and night as we spiritedly apply our efforts toward the path of single-heartedness with God.

Today is the day we are granted to conduct the March monthly service in this first year of the three years, one thousand days leading up to Oyasama’s 130th Anniversary. The service performers will unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits.  Please accept our prayers as we brothers and sisters of this Path have looked forward to this day and have gathered before You to sing the Mikagura-uta.

Due to Your blessing, seven persons attended the special lecture by Church Headquarters staff on February 16th and eight persons from Pearl Church helped in the Tenri Cultural Center Hinokishin Day on February 18th in which the Japanese Garden, the Hawaii Tenri Bunko Library, the Judo Hall, the rain gutters and the cultural center grounds were cleaned and trees trimmed. An average of two persons did weekly yard work for the elderly and disabled. We give thanks for these many opportunities to contribute and walk the path of spiritual growth and the joyous life.

Later this month we will be helping to conduct the Boys and Girls Association Spring Camp and 38th General Meeting with our head minister as the chair.  We pray for a safe and successful camp that will bring people together in joy and unity of mind and that through our good works and through your providence that people will have hope and inner strength that will overcome any despair and suffering.

We pray that Your continued guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others.  We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where all people help one another.  With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the March Monthly Service today, in this 176th Year of Tenrikyo.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.