Members of a local church celebrated Easter days after most of its belongings were stolen.

"You can take our stuff but you can't stop Easter," said Reverend Greg Moore of All Saints United Methodist Church in the Brier Creek area.

The church's belongings disappeared sometime Tuesday night from a white, 12-foot trailer just down the street from a temporary worship center at a rented ministry house, Moore said. Just a year old, the church has been using the Brier Creek Community Center at Brier Creek Elementary to worship. The trailer housed everything from the sound system to the cross.

"It's a big deal to lose everything and it's not a big deal," said church member Steve Posson.

With community support, the church gathered all it needed to celebrate Easter. A sister church provided a sound system. Another church donated a cross. People brought flowers from their gardens.

"The support has been overwhelming. It's been an outpouring... just a testament to life. And goodness triumphs over evil," Moore said.

Every seat at the Easter service was taken.

"After the initial shock wore off, there was just this determined spirit that we are going to still worship," Moore said. "We're still going to celebrate the gift of Easter because none of that stuff holds Easter back."

And as the community came together, the theft faded into the background.

"I decided to continue with the news of this day, which is that Christ has risen," Moore said. "The important thing is that new life is still available here, even for people who take church trailers."

Moore estimates the loss comes to about $10,000. He expects to be able to replace most things in a month or two. But he considers some things irreplaceable, including a cross from a sister church in Costa Rica and a handmade baptismal bowl.