It's been more than one year since Tropical Storm Irene tore through the Schoharie Valley. The storm destroyed nearly everything inside the Schoharie United Presbyterian Church, and Sunday was the first time services could be held there. Our Beth Croughan has the story.

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SCHOHARIE, N.Y. -- The sound of song filled the Schoharie United Presbyterian Church,
as people filled the pews for Sunday's service. It's the first time parishioners had a permanent place to sit since last summer.

"We had folding chairs here. That was as much as we could have," said Bob Price, the Buildings and Grounds Chairman at the Church.

After Irene, Price said everything inside was ruined. The water, he described as shoulder high. They've held events but haven't worshiped there since.

"The first Sunday after the flood, we worshiped in a barn owned by one of the members of the church," said Interim Pastor Bebb Stone.

And after being in the barn and another building in the dark, "We had those yellow electrical strong lights," Stone explained.

It was soon learned that it's not where you worship, but who you worship with.

"We wanted to return here because this is a glorious space. The architecture could not be duplicated. By the grace of god alone, these stained glass windows were not harmed. We love this space, but it does not define us," said Sara Cipperly, the Church Music Director.

And while sitting in the newly replaced pews one would learn Sunday, that the body of this church could be defined by how much they care.

"He basically had the attitude that many of us have had, that you know, you have your moments, you cry and then you move on and help others," said one parishioner as she talked about a Reverend at a Baptist Church in Louisiana.

They've taken up a collection for that church, as it was impacted by the recent storms down south.