Market Street Branch

Forward: This post incorporates a lot of LDS lingo, including:

Ward: A congregation defined by geographical boundaries. LDS people are assigned to wards based on where they live.

Branch: Similar to a ward, but the total membership of a branch is usually much smaller than a ward. Branches are formed in areas where the LDS population isn't dense enough to warrant a ward. 

Stake: A grouping of 10-12 wards or branches. Like a state that is comprised of several cities.

Institute: A place of spiritual education. Think Sunday school for people during the week. Institutes are typically close to universities.

I attended church at the Market Street Branch, which meets in the institute building across the street from Portland State University. I'm glad I had the experience of riding my bike downtown to get to church. I always love meeting with branches. True, I've only done it one other time (Long Island), and only for one week, but I really enjoy the eclectic people I get to meet. I can only speak for myself, but I think I get caught up in the traditions of family wards, and I get used to the homogeneous atmosphere. For some reason meeting with branches reminds me what the gospel is all about. It could be because the two branches I have attended both had newer members, so they were just learning things we take for granted, like how to sing hymns, and how meetings begin and end with prayers.

The branch president lives several miles away in Tigard, which I assume is an entirely different stake. I asked a senior missionary why the branch president lives so far away. He did an excellent job explaining the Market Street Branch:

Most wards and branches have boundaries. The Market Street Branch has no boundaries. Instead, it has a definition, and that definition is that we are the place people go when they don't feel comfortable in other wards. We have no young men or young women program, we do not have primary or a nursery. People attend this branch because they feel comfortable coming here.

The Market Street Branch is awesome. I really like the people. I was invited to attend a special barbecue at the branch president's house tomorrow night. Of course I am attending...there will be free food. It's either that, or come home to the bachelor pad and have pasta again. I need some protein!

I'll be sure to post from the Family Home Evening party tomorrow night.