In this pre-Lenten period we are thinking about the gaps in life - gaps between generations, between sexes, between races - in short, all of the separations that exist in our world, pulling us apart and rupturing relationships that were meant to be vital. Our thesis has been that there is in fact a God who is cncerned about gaps - who meets us in the midst of our separation, and who may enable us to bridge the gaps that exist.

Today we come to one of the most difficult of all - the neighborhood gap. When, a couple of months ago, I asked for some suggestions about subjects for sermons, one letter (which I feel summarizes the thoughts of a great many people) said this:

"when you live in a neighborhood such as ours, we would like to know,

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