"First identify the need." The advice from the Rev. Patrick Close, rector of St. Peter's Church in Mountain Lakes, N. J., appears to have been the guiding principle for many parishes around the country which have developed effective outreach projects addressing specific concerns within their communities.

Each reflects a strong commitment to specific neighborhoods and populations, and a willingness of individuals to get involved, a desire to "brighten the corner where you are."

Families caring for someone who has Alzheimer's Disease or another neurological condition often find themselves locked in and stressed out, wanting to avoid the seemingly-terminal step of nursing home placement but desperately needing breathing space for the care giver as well as safe and involving activities for the patient.

The Rev. Raymond Smith saw the need in his community of West Covina, Calif., when he was rector of St. Martha's Church. Members of the parish and the town formed the corporation which presently oversees St. Martha's Senior Day Care Center. Fr. Smith, retired from parish work but full-time director of the center, hopes to enlarge its capacity of 32 to 150 participants by adding licensure from the state department of health to the social services license. The center, which meets in a leased school building, would offer speech, physical, and occupational therapies in addition to social and arts and crafts activities.

St. Martha's Center also hopes to institute an "intergenerational educational experience" by offering high school students the chance to sample health occupations by working with the staff.

The center's current clients are mostly 75-85 years old; they are stroke survivors, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients. "Our only criterion," said Fr. Smith, "is that they be non-combative."

When a large house owned by a member of Bishop Seabury Church in Groton, Conn., became available, Richard Harrison knew "God opened a door." Mr. Harrison had been active in ministry to just-released prisoners since he had come out of prison himself into a "support network ... of family and extended family" at the church. He was acutely aware that others just released needed "spiritual aftercare ... to get back into society with Christian support."

Fellowship House Ministries houses 11 residents, with eight staff people.

The state refers former inmates to the facility, which must adhere to strict rules for halfway houses by providing 24-hour counseling, supervision and security. But Fellowship House adds its own dimension: Bible study, support groups, the delegation of responsibility and the creation of a family atmosphere.

Mr. Harrison placed high value on this last function. "By realizing how a proper family should function, the men can take control of their lives, and, hopefully, come to terms with their calling in God's family," he has said.

The church supported the house initially; now Fellowship House has its own board and contract with the state, and a mission to prevent former inmates from sliding back into trouble. Bishop Seabury Church continues its support both financially and by welcoming the residents into the congregation.

In 1977, the small eastern Georgia town of Louisville had no licensed day-care center. Increasing numbers of working parents found it difficult to find places. The young congregation of St. Mary Magdalene decided to continue to worship in St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church and build, instead of its own church, a day care center. Linda Easterlin, who served as director for 14 years, said, "Our priest at that time, Fr. Judd Mayfield, had very strong community involvement. The bishop said he could help us build one or the other. So we built the day-care center, to also be used as a parish hall and church office." Money also came from the United Thank Offering, businesses and individuals. "There was no government input," Ms. Easterlin said with a note of pride.

Today The Children's Center is owned by an individual who "signed a very specific contract to continue it as a day-care center, and to try to keep it affordable," said the Rev. Sonia Sullivan, present rector of St. Mary Magdalene. The church and other organizations often provide scholarships for individual children. And St. Mary's and St. Joan's continue to share space. They observed Good Friday together.

On Jan. 28, the Conner Center in Indianapolis offered new one-bedroom apartments to single, independent individuals who are HIV positive. The house is occupied by 24 people - and two dogs. The facility was built by the joint effort of St. Philip's Church and the Damien Center, an ecumenical service organization which now provides care coordinators who help residents through the red tape jungles of medical and financial systems.

The Damien Center was founded by the late Rev. Canon Earl Conner, for whom the house is named. The planners received a HUD grant for construction on the one-and-a-half acre site owned by St. Philip's. Parishioners serve on the board, donate food, clothing, and emergency money, and "have parties," said the Rev. Richard Roos, rector of St. Philip's.

"Housing is the biggest need for people with AIDS in the Indianapolis area," Fr. Roos has said. St. Philip's is experienced in providing housing: The church basement housed a shelter which outgrew the quarters after 12 years, and for 10 years has operated an apartment complex for elderly and handicapped tenants.

When you walk through the elaborately carved doors and step into the many-hued marble narthex, your eyes need a minute to adjust to the dimness. Then you notice the 10 spartan cots, neatly made up with blankets and pillows, five on each side of the door under the Byzantine arches. Some of Manhattan's homeless have found shelter here, in St. Bartholomew's Church on the corner of Park Avenue and 51st Street, New York City, six days a week year-round for the last 15 years.

The Rev. Judith Baumer, assistant rector, began the outreach in 1981, when, she said, members were still shocked to find people sleeping on the streets. Now the shelter amid the skyscrapers is an institution, serving an evening snack and a light breakfast and attended each night by two volunteers. Guests are screened and transported by a drop-in center; many are frequent visitors. "They're a little family unit themselves, night after night," said Ms. Baumer.

The Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Minneapolis recognized the fact that finishing high school or college is tough enough without coping with the care of young children. Students With Children (SWC) provides child care free of charge for babies through pre-schoolers whose parents are completing school. The day-care center uses the church's education wing, which was remodeled at a cost of almost $600,000 to include a study lounge for the parents/students, a parents' education group and advo- cacy services, help finding financial aid and other community resources, and a special needs coordinator to help children with learning or behavioral problems.

Each child has a primary caregiver, who works to become close to the child and the family. The parents are consulted and advised on every facet of their children's care and development. Infant programs provide learning and developmental activities. Toddler caregivers "focus toddlers' curiosity so they learn through hands on exploration and experimentation." Preschoolers receive "enrichment of school readiness skills" to prepare them for kindergarten. SWC stresses that "cultural and individual differences are recognized and appreciated" at all ages.

In 1992, as St. Mark's plans for a day-center were taking shape, Glendale Child Development Center was searching for a new home as its lease expired. The director, Sandy Hilliard, said in a diocesan newspaper, "Their program plan and our existing program were identical. They said, 'You need a place to go, so why don't you come and use our building?' It was truly a miracle."

Twice monthly, volunteers from the church sponsor Parents' Night Out, providing supper and entertainment for the children while the young parents study, shop, see a movie, "or just sit at home," said Margo Kramer, SWC's assistant director.

The board of directors includes members of St. Mark's and the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Mary, which are on opposite sides of the Loring Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, where several community and technical colleges and an art center are within walking distance. The day-care center is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.

Across the street from St. Peter's Church in Mountain Lakes, N.J., is one of the state's two schools for hearing impaired children. For the last eight years, a dozen or so children have trooped over to the church on Wednesday afternoons for Bible Club, where the familiar stories many people have learned in Sunday school are discussed with them in sign language.

"This may be the only religious instruction most of them receive," said Fr. Close. St. Peter's has signers at services and parish social events, too. The church has frequently been asked to prepare deaf students from other churches for confirmation.

"In their home churches they couldn't be prepared for Holy Communion because they are deaf," said Fr. Close. Three Roman Catholic children with hearing impairments received their first communion at St. Peter's on Maundy Thursday.

The Chicago Tribune a year ago called the church "a catalyst." A recent article termed it "an engine." These images of propulsion refer to St. Edmund's in Chicago, where the rector, the Rev. Richard Tolliver, and his congregation refused to accept the disintegration of the old neighborhood.

When Fr. Tolliver arrived in 1989, after serving as a country director for the Peace Corps in Africa, once-beautiful and vibrant Washington Park was an area of empty, vandalized buildings and trash-filled lots. Families, businesses, and money had left. Some St. Edmund's parishioners, coming from "outside" only for services, talked about moving the church to "a more stable, middle-class neighborhood," Fr. Tolliver said.

After living with the intense, generations-old problems in African countries, he felt Washington Park's problems were solvable. The church formed the non-profit St. Edmund's Redevelopment Corp., and proceeded to buy and renovate abandoned apartment buildings surrounding the church.

The corporation will have completed 68 units by July, and has purchased another six buildings with 67 units. The buildings' population will be a mix of public housing and middle-class families.

Completing this restored, re-energized community will be the reopening of St. Edmund's School. Fr. Tolliver and Gladys Ray, the new headmistress, are pulling together the equipment, staff and students so that this September, the period of closed doors from 1988 to 1995 will become just a hiatus in the history that began in 1948.

St. Edmund's has drawn support and contributions from suburban churches, as well as from its long and distinguished list of alumni. Plans call for 42 students the first year in grades kindergarten through third grade, adding a grade each year until the first eighth graders graduate. If donations permit, about 40 percent of the students will be on scholarship.

St. Edmund's Church is staying.