President Obama and family attend Easter services at DC Baptist Church
President Barack Obama bows his head as Pastor Joel Hunter gives the opening prayer during the Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House, April 14, 2014. Sitting with President Obama is Dr. Otis Moss. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and their family attended a Baptist church service April 20 2014 in Washington, DC. Obama and his family celebrated Easter Sunday at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church alongside 250 other congregants and led by the Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins.
According to the White House, the president was rocking his head back and forth to the choir music. On Friday, the President offered his Easter message saying: “We will reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us and rejoice in the triumph of the Resurrection.”
The White House released the following statement: “This morning, the First Family is honored to celebrate Easter with the congregation of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. The pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist is Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins…The President and First Family have also enjoyed worshipping with a number of other D.C.-area congregations, including those at the Washington National Cathedral, Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Evergreen Chapel at Camp David.”
RealClearPolitics’s Alexis Simendinger offred more details (via Huff Po):
Harkins prompted standing applause in welcoming “the president of the United States.” After calling on everyone to stand, turn and welcome their neighbors — but remain in place — Harkins watched with amusement some collective disobedience.
The Obamas greeted each other, and the president turned to shake hands behind him with one of a collection of Secret Service agents in the pews. Then 5 minutes of crowd crush took place in which every smart phone, iPad and baby came forth. The president and Mrs. Obama greeted everyone they could. Obama high-fived a baby boy, hugged and kissed women, and Michelle blew kisses from inside their pew.
Pastor Harkins got everyone back in their seats with “Amens” and a joke: “I didn’t know we had as many people seated in this front section!”
“Isn’t our first family gracious?” he added.
President Obama dropped a white paper or envelope into the silver contribution plate as ushers distributed them through the pews.
More rousing music from the chorus followed… (There are two keyboards, an organ, a saxophone, a harp, drums, and a guitar near the pulpit today, next to the 24-member chorus.
