PILGER, Neb. (AP) — A Lutheran church in a small northeastern Nebraska community has broken ground on a new building after its previous home was destroyed by severe weather.

The June 2014 tornado damaged most of Pilger, including St. John’s Lutheran Church.

The church’s congregation and guests gathered Sunday for the groundbreaking on the new building.  Church members have used a portable building for services since the tornadoes.

The new building’s sanctuary will be able to seat 140 people, and will also have a large social hall, classrooms, two offices and a kitchen.

Church furnishings such as pews, a pulpit and a baptismal font will come from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Snyder, which voted to close recently.