Last Modified : 2011-01-09 5:30 am
Categories : News
One Young Follower from TOC Attended “HARP Workshop”
From 27th to 29th November 2010, Tenrikyo Student Advisory Committee held “HARP Workshop” in Jiba which was attended by 209 people who are in charge of nurturing students of the Path at their church, gathering from around the country and abroad. Mr. Yoshiharu Adachi, son of Rev. & Mrs. Adachi, who works for the Overseas Department in Jiba, attended the workshop again this year, and took the “Trainer Introductory Course” this time.
HARP (Heart Awakening Recreational Program) is a program often used in the event to nurture students in Tenrikyo in these days. In our region, this program has been used in such events as “Youth Gathering” and “Oceania Seminar”, and its demand will be increasing more and more. If you are interested in it, please feel free to contact us.
TOC Year-End General Cleaning and Rice-Cake Pounding Held Joyously
On 28th December, the annual year-end general cleaning was conducted in the Centre from 9:30 a.m. 18 Yoboku, followers and TOC staff sincerely engaged in hinokishin, cleaning the sanctuary and the Youth Hall.
On 30th, the rice-cake pounding was conducted at the Centre from 8:30 a.m. 14 people, including followers, gathered and had a good time. The rice-cake pounded was used for Kagami-mochi (a round rice-cake) to be offered to God at the New Year’s Day Service of the Centre, and, in addition, small rice-cakes made were also provided after the service to each attendee of the service, who enjoyed Japanese-style New Year’s Day.
TOC New Year’s Day Service of the 174th Year of Tenrikyo Held Joyously
Blessed with cool weather with occasional showers, the New Year’s Day Service of the Oceania Centre in the 174th Year of Tenrikyo was performed joyously in high spirits from 11:00 a.m. on the 1st January (31 attendees).
In the prayer, Rev. Adachi, head of the Centre, thanked for God the Parent’s unlimited blessings we received throughout the past year, a year in which we made our utmost to nurture human resources toward the next milestone through such activities as the “Oceania Seminar” and the “Youth Gathering in Oceania”, and expressed his joy and gratitude for the safe arrival of the new year. Furthermore, concerning the activities of Yoboku throughout the new year, quoting the Shinbashira’s words at the Autumn Grand Service last year: “In our present-day society, which is often characterized by a lack of social ties, there are more than a few people who have no one to confide in when they have troubles and who end up trying to bear them alone. There are also cases where a lack of a truly dependable guide for the mind results in confusion, anxiety, and even conflict. In our present-day society, there are present-day problems and sufferings. There are many people who need help and salvation. Given this situation, I believe we must nurture and train as many people as possible who can genuinely spread the teachings”, Rev. Adachi pledged that all of us Yoboku and followers in this diocese would exert our utmost to implement sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and saving others, as well as to continuously nurture as many “real Yoboku” as possible who engage in spreading the teachings.
After the service, Rev. Adachi made his new year’s greetings, instead of the delivery of a sermon, and all the attendees were provided with Japanese Sake, which had been offered to God the Parent. After that, Osechi-ryori(Japanese festival dishes for the new year) prepared by the Centre was served for lunch and all present had a good time in a friendly atmosphere of the New Year’s Day.
Four Students from Australia Participated in Sechi Festival Student Hinokishin Corps!
From 5th to 7th January every year, the lively Sechi Festival takes place in Jiba, an annual event sponsored by Church Headquarters to serve zoni, a special New Years soup containing rice cakes that had been offered to God the Parent at the New Year’s Day Service, to those who returned to Jiba for their new year greetings to God the Parent and Oyasama.
In parallel with this event, the “Sechi Festival Students Hinokishin Corps” was organised and two university students and two high school students from Australia participated in the Corps: Mr. Dairei Masuno, Mr. Harumichi Fukaya, Mr. Yonehiro Masuno and Mr. Yukichi Tagawa who have been sent by Church Headquarters as international high school students to Australia and live in Brisbane. All of them enjoyed engaging in hinokishin as a server or a guide, together with about 400 university and high school students gathering from throughout the country.
