Glide Memorial United Methodist Church

‘Go ahead!’ shouts the lady in the wheelchair as the rainbow-robed ex-con closes his eyes to hit a high note. The 100-member Glide gospel choir is kicking off another Sunday celebration, and the welcome is warm for whoever walks (or rolls) through the door – the 1500-plus congregation includes gays, lesbians, transsexuals, single-parent families and many who’d once lost all faith in faith. After the celebration ends, the radical Methodist congregation keeps the inspiration coming, providing a million free meals a year and housing for 52 formerly homeless fam­ilies – now that’s hitting a high note.