March 2026 Voice of the Divine Parent
- 11 hours ago
- 8 min read
Vol. 26# 3
Spring Memorial Service
The Konko Church of Gardena and the Konko Church of Los Angeles will hold a Joint Spring Memorial Service on Sunday, March 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the Gardena Church Service Hall. Please note Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8.
This Spring Memorial Service is held to honor and express our gratitude for the services of the successive Konko-sama throughout the generations and to those who made significant contributions to the propagation of the Konko Faith in North America.
We would like to commemorate the first Head Minister of the Konko Church of Gardena, Rev. Isao Goto and his wife; the first Head Minister of the Konko Church of Los Angeles, Rev. Toshitsugu Kandori and his wife; and all successive Head Ministers of both regions who have served in the progression of the churches, the organization, and the development of the local community. We also respectfully invite and honor the sacred spirits of devoted church members and believers, the spirits of their families and relatives, the ancestral spirits connected to each of our families, and the spirits of those who died during the war, including fallen soldiers.
With the presence and support of these spirits, our churches have been established, and we have been granted life, faith, and the ability to live in peace today. With heartfelt gratitude, we pray that the sacred spirits may continue their spiritual progress (michi-tachi) and receive even greater spiritual virtue.
We will also invite and honor the ancestral spirits of the families and relatives of everyone who gathers in worship. Please come with your family and let us make this service a joyful occasion for your beloved ancestral spirits.
Rev. Mitsuo Tamai - Grandma Carrying a Bag - continued from February
As I mentioned before, I succeeded my parents’ church in 1954. However, at that time I was an unfilial son. When I was young, I spent all my time drawing pictures I liked, and because of that, I was unable to be present at my parents’ final moments.
Most first-generation ministers who propagated in new places faced extraordinary hardships. They were poor, and there were many times when they even lacked food for the day. They endured unimaginable struggles to build the foundation of their churches. My parents were no exception; their life was a series of hardships. And in the same way, so was mine.
When my father began propagating in Hayashima, I was only 6 years old. Around that time, a movie was introduced to our town. In the countryside there were no movie theaters, so a travelling film company transporting a white screen came to the elementary school auditorium. That day they showed a film based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story, “The Little Match Girl.”
After we watched it, we returned to the classroom, and the teacher asked everyone, “What did you think about the movie today?” Everyone shared thoughts such as, “That match girl is so pitiful—someone should help her,” or “How heartbreaking”.
In the story, a girl walked around selling matches on a cold, snowy day. She clutched her unsold matches while enduring the cold. When she came to a house and happened to look through the window, she saw a family eating happily in a warm room lit by candles. She suddenly realized how hungry she was, pressed her cheek to the window, and quietly watched the warm scene inside. Then she noticed the cold again and, without thinking, lit one match from her basket, held her hands over it, and warmed herself—until it went out. She lit another match and warmed her frozen hands again. In the end, the girl died from the freezing temperature. Then a sleigh came down from heaven, placed the dead child on it, and carried her away to heaven.
The other children in my class said, “That girl was so pitiful,” and “Why didn’t the people inside the warm house share their food with her?” Everyone shared similar thoughts. But my thoughts were different.
What I thought was: “That match girl was lucky.” Because she was taken to heaven on the sleigh, she wouldn’t need to feel hungry anymore, and she wouldn’t have to suffer from the cold. To be honest, I even thought, “I want to be like that, too.” That is how deeply the feeling of hunger affected me as a child at that time. That was the difference between me and the other children.
The teacher called on several children, but did not call on me. Everyone was saying, “How pitiful,” but if the teacher had called on me, I probably would have said, “I am glad she went to heaven.” I was relieved the teacher didn’t choose me. If the teacher had heard an answer different from everyone else’s, he would surely have questioned my way of thinking. But my reality was that I wanted to escape hunger so badly.
I studied Japanese literature, but my eldest son specialized in European literature. At one point he studied at the University of Helsinki. During his fourth year, he said he wanted to translate something for his graduation thesis. After returning from Europe, he called me from Tokyo and said, “Dad, I’ve decided what I’ll do for my graduation thesis. I brought the original book home. I’m going to translate this for my thesis.”
I asked, “What book is it?” He said, “I found a Hans Christian Andersen book, so I’m going to read it and translate one full book for my graduation thesis. I think I can do it because my professor will guide me. I’ll work very hard. Please pray to Kami for me.”
The moment I heard the name “Andersen,” I froze. In an instant my mind returned to when I was six.
As a father, I had rewatched Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl” and thought, “I would want to escape hunger as soon as possible—won’t someone take me away like that?” Even now, Andersen’s story is engrossed in my mind. And then my own son—my eldest son, now grown—is planning to translate Andersen’s original text for his graduation thesis. How great is the difference between these two situations?
During the years that my child and I have practiced faith together, Kami has raised and nurtured us in such a great way. A tragic Andersen story has, unexpectedly, become a joyful Andersen story for us. In that moment, I truly felt the breadth of Kami’s heart—how Kami seemed to say, “You were once like this; I was patient, and you also endured. Because of that, you have grown this far. You and your child have received divine favors.” I was filled with indescribable feelings, and I offered my gratitude to Kami.
The teaching, “Do not forget your childhood and speak ill of your parents,” means we must not forget our starting point. We must compare our own journey—how far we have grown—and continue to grow. I believe this is most important for nurturing a heart directed toward Kami, and for cultivating a Kami’s heart within ourselves.
To be continued in the next issue.
Daily Renewal of the HeartRev. Matsutaro Yasutake (Founder of Amagi Church) 記しおけ 心のそこに いつまでも わが救われし そのはじめをば “Keep it written down the very beginning- of how you were saved preserve deeply in your heart, forever”
Do not forget the moment your hardship first began to ease, even years later. Hold on to your spiritual “starting point”—why you began faith, and what helped you. Cherish it in your heart so you do not lose gratitude and humility, even after time passes. |
Exercises for the Mind/Heart/Spirit |
023 Let's give way to others |
People today seem to always be in a hurry, whether it's walking on the escalator or interrupting someone to respond. But do we really need to rush all the time? Why not say, "Please, go ahead," and give way to others? As a reward, you may find yourself enjoying a luxurious, leisurely moment in return. |
A Rounded, Gentle Heart Yaku does not refer to the commonly-used word "yaku" (unlucky), but is written as the character for service. Yakutoshi (year of service) means a year of usefulness. Consider this year of great service as a year in which you will be even more useful, practice your faith with a lively heart, and pray that you will be of use to Kami. This year is an unlucky year---but it is a year in which you will be more useful than usual! |
Passage Interpretation
Rather than assuming that “yakudoshi” (an unlucky year) is simply a bad, fearful year, we should change our perspective and live positively by thinking it is “a year to be of service.” Maintain a rounded, gentle heart that serves and benefits others.
It presents the view that “yaku” does not mean 厄 (misfortune), but rather 役 (role, service, being useful).
“Yakudoshi” is often thought of as a year when bad things happen.
Here, however, it is re-read by changing the character: “yakudoshi” → “yakudoshi (役年),” meaning “a year to be useful / a year of service.”
It also reframes:
“Taiyaku” (大厄) as “a year in which one can fulfill an even greater role.”
The more “serious” the yaku-year, the more it can be understood as a year to serve in a larger way.
The passage encourages us to practice faith with an energetic heart and pray to be able to serve Kami.
Let us refrain from saying: “I’m anxious because it’s an unlucky year.”
Let us practice saying: “This year is a year when I can work and serve others—and Kami—more than usual.”
In other words, it is a message of encouragement and a change of mindset
Announcements from the Konko Church of Gardena
Morning Service, Cleanup, & Shinto-Kai meeting
On Sunday, March 1, we will be holding the morning service at 9:00 a.m. After prayer, let us clean the inside and outside of the church. The Shinto-Kai meeting will be held after the cleanup. Everyone is welcome to join.
Spring Memorial Service
On Sunday, March 8, we will be holding a joint Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. Please invite your family and friends. Please note Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8.
Gardena Church Work Committee Study Group
GCWC will be held on Sunday, March 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Morning Service, Cleanup, & Shinto-Kai meeting
On Sunday, March 29, we will be holding the April morning service at 9:00 a.m. After prayer, let us clean the inside and outside of the church. The Shinto-Kai meeting will be held after the cleanup. Everyone is welcome to join.
Candidates for the Board of Directors Election
Sueko Nakayama, Frances Hachiya, Alex Yasutake, Phil Yasuhara, Nobuharu Uzunoe
Announcements from the Konko Church of Los Angeles
Major repairs
Repairs will begin at the Los Angeles Church to address leaks, interior carpeting, and wall restoration. After many years of inactivity, we hope to hold this year's Ikigami Konko Daijin Ceremony at the Los Angeles Church Service Hall. This construction will require significant costs. We humbly ask for your prayers and sincere support. If you would like to make an offering, please send it to the following address:
Attn: Accounting Department: Mr. & Mrs. Naomi Pearey
3740 Forecastle Ave.
West Covina, CA 91792.
Please make checks payable to "Konko Church of Los Angeles". Thank you very much.
Spring Memorial Service
On Sunday, March 8, we will be holding a joint Memorial Service at the Gardena Church Service Hall at 10:00 a.m. Please invite your family and friends. Please note Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8.
Comments