Ma Siss's Place turns five

Five years ago, more or less, a small group of Dorchester residents had the audacity to declare that an oil-stained garage at the corner of Quincy and Baker streets was to be a church. Today, about 50 people gathered in the building to celebrate their ups and downs, and simply their survival.

The story of the Quincy Street Missional Church, and its affiliated thrift shop, Ma Siss's Place, was the subject of a four-part series in the Globe last December. I spent three years with the congregation while reporting that series; since its publication, I've been back for a few visits, and for a funeral, but today was the first time in a while I've had a chance to catch up.

The congregation has had more than its share of challenges -- in the neighborhood, midway between Upham's Corner and Franklin Park, drugs and violence are a problem, and the congregation has struggled with multiple issues over time. But after a hard summer, the fall has brought better attendance at the Saturday afternoon worship (a time originally chosen because some of the members belonged to established churches that met Sunday mornings) and today was an impressive display -- the sanctuary, constructed inside the garage, was packed; there were multiple musical performers accompanied by drums and electronic instruments, and Ma Siss and her neighbors had prepared a huge spread of food, including fried chicken, ribs, and macaroni and cheese. There are now enough volunteers from local evangelical churches that every child who wants one can have a tutor. And a Back Bay congregation, Reunion, is pledging to come weekly for a while to help with the music, backing up the congregation's talented music leader, Nadia Varela, who is now also teaching music at a Boston middle school. The congregation is already thinking about the holidays -- a company has donated coats that the church will give to its neediest members.

Several people got up to talk about the influence of the church in their lives. Cliff, active in the congregation's AA meeting, talked about how he had been sober for two years thanks to the church. Tom Groeneman, the only person who has been ordained by the church, said the congregation had helped him remain sober and connected. Ma Fann, wearing an Obama T-shirt with a white skirt and jacket, served as usher, while Ma Siss, beaming, oversaw the kitchen. Aaron Graham, the founding pastor, and his wife, Amy, sent greetings; they are living in Washington now and just adopted a baby boy, Elijah.

The most moving moment came when a woman known to all as Sister Woodberry got up to speak. She is in her late 80s, and can't walk unassisted -- even with a walker, she struggled to get up to the microphone, and her voice was almost inaudible. But then she launched into an a capella rendition of a well-known gospel song called "99 1/2 won't do'' ("Lord, I'm running trying to make 100 because 99 and a half won't do"). As she sang, her voice rose, she stood upright, and the congregation began to clap. It wasn't entirely clear, as they joined in on the chorus, whether they were thinking about their own longevity, or that of the congregation, or just about the importance of determination and faith as elements of survival, but as Sister Woodberry apologized in advance for how long it would take her to walk back to her seat, she noted that her parents had lived into their 90s, and that she intends to outlast them. And then, she said, "If I don't make it, you can say I tried.''

(Photo, of Ma Siss, by Pat Greenhouse of the Globe staff.)