■ January 2002

New Year Service
On 1 January 2002, Konko Church of Izuo had the New Year Service leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, in early morning and many believers in the best dress attended.

altar decorated with a lot of offerings

In front of the altar, that was decorated with a lot of offerings including a special rice cake for the New Year, congregations prayed their good health and good luck in this year.

congregations listened to Senior Chief Minister's first sermon

The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, gave his first sermon of this year, then congregations made a long line to receive "Okakisage," on which the reverend wrote a message for each recipient to guide their life of the year.

Service for Traffic Safety
On 6 January, the annual service for traffic safety was held at Konko Church of Izuo leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated.

each drivers were purified own car

After the service in the sacred hall, each drivers and cars were purified in front of the Inori-no-to, Prayers' Pagoda.

Congratulations for aged people
On 8 January, the congratulate ceremony for aged people was held. Believers who would become 80 years old in 2002 gathered the Church and the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, handed a commemorative medal to each one wishing their further healthy life. This ceremony originates with birthday party of the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the former Senior Chief Minister, and now cerebrates the aged believers to share the late reverend's good luck of living long (96 years)．

aged believers and Senior Chief Minister enjoyed talking

Elder believers, over 80 years old, were awarded receiving auspicious sweet and enjoyed talking with the Senior Chief Minister.

Seijin Kansha-sai was Served
On 13 January, Seijin Kansha-sai (coming-of-age ceremony) was served leaded by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Chief Minister of Konko Church of Kasugaoka, at Hiromae (sacred hall of Konko Church of Izuo.)

each of the coming-of-ages received a card with messages

The coming-of-ages offered a sacred twig for the altar, and received a card written a message from the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church.

Dondo-matsuri was served
On 15 January, Dondo-matsuri was served at Konko Church of Izuo, leaded by Rev. Osamu Miyake, Chief Minister of Konko Church of Kobe-Nada.

Senior Chief Minister offered a sacred twig to the altar

New Year's decorations, old ornaments, and amulets were piled up and burned in order to express appreciation for their function.

the chief priest put fire on the piled ornaments

It was very powerful that the chief priest threw wooded cards written the name of those who were predicted to have unlucky in this year into the fire burning up to the sky in order to burn out their unlucky.

■AYC Executive Meeting
On 28 January, Konko Church of Izuo hosted the executive meeting of World Federalist Movement Asia Youth Center (AYC). Representatives from home and abroad discussed enthusiastically all day.

Foreign representatives from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, etc, including Dr James Aruptharaj, CEO of the AYC, from Sri Lanka, attended the 75th Anniversary Grand Service held on the previous day. They offered a sacred twig to the late Rev. Toshio Miyake's altar before the meeting, in order to express their appreciation to the late reverend's contribution for the AYC establishment.

Rev. Mitsuo Miyake delivered an opening address

At the start of the meeting, foreign representatives handed gifts to the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, President of WFM Asia Center. Every branch reported the activities and budget at the meeting leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, President of the AYC. AYC, which has more than 10,000 donating members, carries out various social works around South Asian countries.