The church was a scary place, very dark. We had Sunday school in the undercroft. There was one light bulb, and it was cold and damp."

That's how Kathy Gerdom remembers the St. Mark's Church of her childhood. Now, she said, the old church in downtown Casper, Wyo., has Sunday school on the third floor of the attached parish hall, and "it's filled with sunlight, lights everywhere, joy and laughter."

Ms. Gerdom recalls children expected to be "seen but not heard"; now 35-45 small parishioners enter the 10 a.m. service at the offertory. "We have cookie handprints and glitter everywhere and it's fine," she said. "We love their joyful noise!"

The traditional Gothic building that Ms. Gerdom, until recently the only warden and now chair of the building committee, found frightening as a child is the same structure. The difference, she said, is "the people are happier. [There are] families, lots of children."

That spooky undercroft now houses the Community Free Medical Clinic. Shirley McPherson, a Medicaid/Medicare specialist, spends many evenings working at the clinic. Everyone is a volunteer: physicians, nurses and receptionists.

"We have two doctors, a retired physician and a family practice resident," Ms. McPherson said. "We're looking for a medical director."

"The demand for appointments exceeds the time," said the Rev. Benjamin Wright, assistant rector.

The clinic was started by a retired physician, Dr. John Corbett. He recognized the needs of the many people who fell into the cracks between government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and private insurance. Patients are screened by Interfaith, a social service screening agency. Referrals come from many sources, including school nurses. All who qualify are seen, from babies to elderly. An advocates' group arranges appointments with specialists, some of whom are willing to work out payment schedules or even waive their charges. Prescriptions are likewise negotiated. "Drug companies, too, often donate" medications, Ms. McPherson said.

The Rev. Royce Brown, rector of St. Mark's, described Casper as "a very large town. We have an art museum and a symphony orchestra. It was dependent upon oil, but has diversified."

With a population of about 50,000, Fr. Wright said, it functions as a regional medical and educational center. It lies in "an 80-mile valley, near the 'hole in the wall' - the outlaws' hideout," he said. "I live at the foot of a mountain!"

St. Mark's is "in the very center of town," Ms. Gerdom said. "There are churches on three corners - Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and St. Mark's - and a park on the fourth."

Fr. Wright is a Texan who spent 22 years in the Air Force before opting for the priesthood. He's been assistant rector for six months. "This is a super place," he said. "The laity are empowered to do ministry. The lay committees run the church."

St. Mark's, a Jubilee Ministry Center, also houses clothing and food closets, and donates space to Samaritan Counseling Center.

With almost 600 communicants, it is the largest church in the diocese.

The building is old Gothic, built in the 1920s, "an English traditional church with stained glass and a clerestory," Fr. Wright said. Modern innovations have occurred, especially in accessibility.

"We have an elevator now," Ms. Gerdom said, "and we took out some pews, in a staggered arrangement. We didn't want to make a 'wheelchair section'." The original 103-year-old structure reposes at the fair grounds, where it's used for weddings and other special events.

"It's a very involved parish, with lots of programs and 12 committees," Ms. Gerdom said. "People usually have a finger - a hand, a whole body - in three or four. This is not a parish where a small core of people does everything. Seventy-five people are included in hospitality. Every person belongs to at least one group, does at least one ministry."

The church has strong programs for young people, too, to "plant the seed early," Ms. Gerdom said. There are EYC groups for both junior and senior high school, and the junior high group will be host to this year's junior high diocesan convention.

"This congregation is committed to doing things well," Fr. Brown said. Part of the church's in-reach is "excellent worship, choir and lay readers." The readers receive training both from the clergy and from a professional vocal coach. "They lead non-Eucharistic Lenten services, Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross."

The parish has no children's choir, but when a group of fourth through sixth graders wanted to sing, choirmaster Jim Clark, whose wife, Jeanne, is organist, invited them to attend rehearsals of the adult choir on Sundays. "They sing their own anthem four or five times a year," Fr. Brown said. "The senior high kids sing in the adult choir."

St. Mark's has two Sunday morning services, a Wednesday evening healing service and a Thursday morning Eucharist. Music is generally traditional, but during the communion a small group - guitars, a mandolin, a bass, a piano and singers - performs praise songs, Fr. Brown said. Some people like one thing, some another, and "I'm trying to hold the line in the middle," he said.

Stewardship is of special concern at St. Mark's. The rector said they abandoned the every member canvass in favor of a three-fold program of time, talent and treasure. Everyone is asked to sign three separate pledge cards, and make a commitment in each area. Four times yearly there are stewardship teachings and events. Each Sunday an organization or program has an opportunity to explain itself during the Minute for Mission and Ministry. "New people feel a desire to be part of on-going ministries," Fr. Brown said.