�� 2002September
Special Service for Elderly People
On 16 September, Special Service for elderly people was held at the sacred hall of the Konko Church of Izuo moderated by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, a lot of believers in their age of above 70 attended. Each attendee was delighted to receive "shake hands in prayer" by Rev. Miyake after the ceremony.

Rev. Miyake giving congratulations

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the hall to cerebrate their healthy and long life. The attendees enjoyed lunch served by the Women Association, magic show performed by Girl Scout, Japanese traditional dance, hula, comic backchat, karaoke, and etc.

attendees enjoyed hula

Chairman of RKK Paid a Courtesy Visit
On 18 September, Rev. Katsunori Yamanoi, Chairman of Rissho Kosei-kai, paid a courtesy visit to the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo. Izuo Church and RKK have had long deep relationship that the each founders, the late Rev. Toshio Miyake and the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, were the best friend to cooperate to promote interfaith dialogue for establishing the world peace. Rev. Yamanoi exchanged opinions with most reverend and Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, on the issue surrounding the religious world including his duty took up from Rev. Norio Sakai, the former Chairman.

Rev. Yamanoi and the most Rev. Miyake

Oyobidashi-Matsuri
On 22 September, "Oyobidashi-Matsuri" the ceremony prior to Autumn Ancestors Service was served at Konko Church of Izuo from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. leaded by the most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister.

Oyobidashi-Matsuri is served twice a year in Spring and Autumn. All the names of tens of thousands of those who are enshrined in Izuo Church since 1927 are called out for 7 hours by the most reverend and his three sons, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated of Izuo Church, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Chief Minister of the Kasugaoka Church, Rev. Osamu Miyake, Chief Minister of the Kobe-Nada Church.

Autumn Ancestors Service
On 23 September, the special ceremony was held in front of the Prayers Pagoda in Konko Church of Izuo leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, to lay the ashes of those who died in this half year. A lot of left families attended the ceremony.

the ceremony master and staffs coming down after the ceremony

Following the ceremony, Autumn Ancestors Service was served by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church. After several programs such as purification, prayer, opening the altar's door, offering the perishables, and carol, the ceremony master gave a prayer and offered the sacred twig to the altar. Then the congregations chant a prayer for the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, and the ceremony master on behalf of each attendee offered a grand sacred twig to the ancestors' altar. At the end of the ceremony, the most reverend delivered a sermon.

they showed their veneration for the their ancestors

The 8th Memorial Service for the Late Mrs. Tsune Miyake
On 24 September, the 8th memorial service for the late Mrs. Tsune Miyake, the wife of the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, was served together with the monthly service. Rev. Mituso Miyake leaded the service and the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, Miyake family, and all the attendees offered a sacred twig to the altar to memorize her great efforts walking with the late reverend since the establishment of Izuo Church.

Visited the Headquarters
On 3 October, believers of Konko Church of Izuo paid a visit to the headquarters of Konko Church as usual autumn. They gathered at Osaka station to travel by chartered train to Konko town in Okayama Prefecture.

service in front of the Izuo Churhc tomb

At first, they offered a service in front of Izuo Church tomb leaded by Rev. Mituso Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, and the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, gave a sermon. Then they attended Grand Service served by Patriarch Heiki Konko-sama the V at the warship hall. They visited the tomb of Konko Daijin, he founded the Konko Church in 1859, before they left back for Osaka.

they offered a prayer for the Konko Daijin's tomb

Izuo Church has visited the headquarters for 75 years on every 4 April and 4 October, however, it is changed to 3 April and 3 October from this year because of the headquarters changes the Grand Service day.