SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Some people pray for guidance when looking for a new church, while some people, after a Saturday night of partying into the wee hours downtown, may have drunkenly stumbled across the Pentecostal church when it was located on busy 49 Street.

Pastor Chris Watkins stands casually dressed outside his Cornerstone Pentecostal Church on Sunday May 29. - Thandiwe Vela/NNSL photo Places of Worship Whether you have never stepped foot inside a place of worship, are new in town, unsatisfied with where you attend now, or are just looking for a social activity — there are dozens of new and well-established churches in Yellowknife, representing most denominations. Yellowknifer will be visiting the city's places of worship to give you an idea of what they're like, as a newcomer. If you've already found your ideal place of worship, feel free to invite Yellowknifer to profile your faith community by sending an e-mail to editorial@nnsl.com

The Cornerstone Pentecostal Church has drastically switched scenery since 2008, from the bustling central street to a much spacier site on Haener Drive, in the scenic Niven Lake subdivision. The large rocks, shrubbery, and wild natural landscape outside, framed by large pentagonal windows, provide a pleasant and serene backdrop to their services.

For the weekly Sunday service at the evangelical Christian church, which starts at 11 a.m., the dress code - or lack thereof - is clearly "come as you are."

"I'm not adverse to wearing a suit," pastor Chris Watkins said, standing comfortably in his khakis and a white Hawaiian-print shirt. "But it's important to be welcoming and relaxed."

The service is almost two hours long on a regular Sunday, and includes a lengthy singing and worship segment at the beginning. The worship team, comprised of two women on vocals, a third on keyboard and 76-year-old missionary William Apsimik on guitar, leads the congregation through a series of hymns, with lyrics projected from the stage or available in hymnbooks in front of every pale green cushioned seat in the church. It can take more than an hour to get through a handful of hymns as some in the congregation proclaim worship and prayers between each song.

Young families with toddlers seem to dominate the congregation, not surprising considering the 36-space childcare facility also housed in the church building.

Cornerstone is a member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, established in 1919, which explains on its website that the Pentecostal faith views the Bible as divinely inspired and thus infallible and the supreme authority on faith and practice. Members of the religion are considered to have been "born again" by the Holy Spirit through their faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of humanity.

The church reports about 150,000 people attended Sunday services in 2009 at the 1,077 Pentecostal churches across Canada.

Yellowknife's Cornerstone church also makes an effort to attract young people, holding a youth night every Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., often inviting speakers. Tonight, Creation Ministries International geologist Dr. Emil Sylvestru will be presenting a discussion on science and creation.

Sylvestru will also be a special speaker at the Sunday service this weekend if you're interested in scoping this church out.

Next week: St. Patrick's Catholic Church

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