MELE MOA AND FRIENDS LIGHT UP TOWNSEND
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
MELE MOA AND FRIENDS LIGHT UP TOWNSEND
Nancy Marks
Reporter
Reverend Mele Moa, Townsend United Methodist Church organized a Polynesian luau complete with a brass band and hula girls for the public to enjoy Friday, June 16 at the church at 200 N. Cedar Street. The joyful sounds of Hawaiian music wafted over downtown while a crowd of 50 gathered behind the church for an outdoor dinner.
“The luau was in honor of the 140th anniversary of the Methodist Church, built in 1983 and myself who is the first female minister of color serving at the church. Church members and I thought we should celebrate those two special occasions. We are so happy to have such a large crowd to share the meal and visit,” Mele said.
Mele has served both the Townsend and the East Helena Methodist churches for nine months. Mele, who has a Masters in theology and social transformation from UC Berkeley, said she has found Townsend residents to be kind and welcoming. One East Helena lady explained that the congregation enjoys Moa’s preaching. “We like her very much,” she said.
Rev. Mele, who refers to herself by her first name, served a church in Salt Lake City before coming to Townsend. She had asked the Tongan Christian Brass Band to come to play. The band of about thirty student players and dancers performs on a regular basis in Salt Lake. The young dancers were decked out in black shifts and grass skirts. The crowd clapped and yelled approvingly as they performed several Polynesian dances.
Mele pointed out it was the Polynesian tradition to honor the dancers with donations, so many showed their appreciation with dollars on the dance mat.
The Polynesian dinner included baked sweet potatoes, pulled pork, a spinach dish and a special chop suey dish. Dessert was a sweet drink of watermelon, pineapple and coconut shreds.
The evening ended with the dancers teaching hula dancing to some of the audience.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Salt Lake cooks made a meal to remember for the Methodist Church luau
Image 2 Caption: Pastor Mele Moa welcomed a large crowd to an evening of food and music.
Image 3 Caption: The Tongan Christian Band of Salt Lake and hula dancers wowed the crowd with their authentic Polynesian sounds and dance moves.
