Called an iconostasis, it's a partition or screen on which are placed icons, the sacred Christian images venerated in the Eastern Church.

McCormick is one of many local people turning to faith in these tough economic times because it gives them hope, community support and even some basic needs like job referrals, food, counseling, firewood and gas for their cars.

FOCUS ON THANKS

McCormick's job, 20 years in IT at NAU, is the sole support of her family now that her husband, Lewis, died in February.

But her spiritual mainstay is her church community, which numbers about 80 members and is led by Father Nicholas Andruchow.

Eucharist, which is gratitude and thanksgiving, is central to their faith, Andruchow said.

"Every day you should wake up and say five things you are grateful for, and then focus your life on being grateful," he said. "Also, don't isolate yourself. You might feel you're the only one in that situation -- but you're not. Let's process this whole craziness together and help one another."

Church members frequent each other's businesses, help supply gas for vehicles for those in need and even share firewood.

Andruchow also said it's important to not blame others for one's woes.

"Don't blame," he observed. "Just be aware, don't say, 'I'm a victim. My life is so tough -- look what's happening to me!' That's why I encourage everyone to be apart of a faith community."

The San Francisco de Asis Parish has been helping the Greek Orthodox membership with places to worship for several years.

In fact, the Orthodox services are currently in the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Roman Catholic church on West Cherry Avenue.

SOME EMPTY SEATS

The Rev. Patrick Mowrer, or "Father Pat," is the parish pastor, and he works closely with Andruchow, helping people in both faiths.

"I think people fall back on the church more at this time," Mowrer said. "Where do I go? I go back to God."

He shared these thoughts May 5, during an Interfaith breakfast for the National Day of Prayer at Flagstaff Federated Community Church downtown, which focused on folding one faith tradition into another.

Mowrer said the Hispanic community in Flagstaff has seen economic challenges throughout its history here.

"The Hispanics, who always have the struggles, they flock to the church," he said. "It's always been difficult. It continues to be difficult, but this is where they find hope."

Some parishioners have had to move away when they couldn't make ends meet.

"The hard part is people move away," the father said. "You have a family, and then the family leaves. There's no time to say good-bye, there are just these empty seats."

Mowrer said cold weather is also a hardship.

"Lack of heat, shoveling snow, all those extra things you have to do, you don't have to do in a warmer climate," he added.

To help with employment, the church produces a bulletin with job openings, a listing available to the congregation at the parish office.

"A few people have found jobs that way," he said.

CAN'T AFFORD FLAGSTAFF

Other churches, like Christ's Church of Flagstaff, are faced with rebuilding membership after families have been forced to move away.

Not too long ago, the church on East Soliere Avenue had 2,500 members.

"About two years ago, we lost about 50 to 100 young families when the economy was booming," said Senior Pastor James Dorman. "What we found was that landlords were taking money out of their houses (in second mortgages), and then increasing the rent and making it impossible for people to make ends meet."

He said young professionals were relocating to Tennessee, Texas, to Georgia.

"They were saying, 'We love Flagstaff, we love the church, but we can't afford to live here,'" said Dorman, who has been leading the church for almost 27 years.

And then about a year ago, the church lost more members.

"We lost about 50 young families because they couldn't stay employed," he said

However, in the last year membership has been picking up, with 1,500 worshippers coming through on the Easter weekend, Dorman noted.

"People should continue to build a strong, trusting relationship with God," he said. "As we gather on the weekends, there's a sense of encouragement just by being together."

LEARN TO PERSEVERE

To get through these difficult times, people are turning to the church for the first time, or returning with renewed faith, he said.

"We don't teach that God prevents difficult situations," Dorman said. "We just teach that God empowers us to persevere in the difficult situations, whether it's the economy, personal relations, with parenting or just doing our job."

In fact, Christ's Church is helping people perform better on the job.

"In tough economic times, we have to sit down and say, 'What makes us attractive to the marketplace?'" said Dorman, who has a background in business.

The church just finished a five-week study on how to be a good employee, "how to really engage in the workplace, to work as if we were working for God," he added.

"We've got the Bible right if employers are knocking on the door trying to hire our people. High integrity -- employers really like those kinds of people."

The church has also expanded with other services, such as offering classes in how to manage the family budget.

Another source of help is the 34 small neighborhood groups that meet across the city to develop a more in-depth sense of community.

Church members also reach out to help those in need around the world.

"We just took an offering for the devastating impact in Japan," the pastor said. "We were able to send $4,500 to Japan."

GIVE THEM HOPE

On a smaller scale, about 100 people attend services each Sunday at the Church of the Resurrection, using the commons area at Coconino Community College on South Lone Tree Road.

Pastor Bob Norton had been leading his small flock with enthusiasm since 2007.

The former senior pastor for 16 years at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Norton left to "plant" a new church.

"Anytime you plant a church, you are taking a huge risk," said Norton, speaking at the church office on East Pine Knoll Drive. "You start with absolutely nothing, and that's the adventure of it."

The church has seen small but steady growth since its first service.

"If there are difficult times, people look for solace and encouragement, and they ask for help," Norton said. "They say two entities thrive in hard times: Bars, where people try to drown their sorrows, and churches, because they give them hope."

Norton said giving to others is one way to feel better in hard times.

"Christianity teaches people to serve as we turn from our own situations out to others," he said. "That's when we find the healing and happiness."

Although people are sometimes holding back because they are wary of joining a group, donations are good at his church, he said.

"There's a steady increase," Norton observed. "It just provides the resources to do good ministry, like divorce care, helping with grieving and FaithWorks projects."

Betsey Bruner can be reached at bbruner@azdailysun.com or 556-2255.