Easter 2012: President Obama And Family Go To Church (PHOTOS)

On a crisp, mostly sunny Easter morning, the First Family walked across Lafayette Square to 11 a.m. services at St. John's Episcopal Church.

"Happy Easter, everybody," the president said as he strolled past the pool. He was wearing a dark suit with a light-blue tie. The first lady was wearing a magenta-colored dress with a black shrug.

A long line of people waited outside the church. They were being admitted through a side door.

During the Prayers of the People, as is customary, the congregation offered a prayer for "Barack, our President, the leaders of Congress, and the Supreme Court, and all who are in positions of authority."

POTUS was glimpsed briefly, in a pew on the right side of the center aisle, about six rows back, turning around to shake the hands of other worshipers during the offering of peace.

The President lined up for communion, ahead of First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia. As the first couple returned to their seats, they smiled and greeted other worshipers.

According to a person waiting on the sidewalk outside St. John's, a crowd of about 80 people were stranded outside, unable to get in, despite lining up 45 minutes before the service and waiting another 40 minutes after it began.

As the choir sang the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah, the First Family left by a side door. At 12:33, they walked back to the WH -- POTUS holding hands with Malia, FLOTUS with Sasha.

The President and First Family have enjoyed worshipping with a number of D.C.-area congregations. They have attended services at 19th Street Baptist Church, 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, and multiple services at St. John's Episcopal Church and Evergreen Chapel at Camp David. They most recently attended St. John’s on March 18th, 2012.

Reports filed By Mark Landler of the New York Times for The White House Pool Report.

Loading Slideshow

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha (2nd R) and Malia (R) walk from St John's Episcopal Church after attending Easter Service April 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  US President Barack Obama (2nd L) and First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd R) with their daughters Sasha (L) and Malia (R) walk across Lafeyette Square from the White House for Easter Service at St John's Episcopal Church April 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  US President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (L) with their daughters Sasha (2nd R) and Malia (2nd L) walk across Lafeyette Square from the White House for Easter Service at St John's Episcopal Church April 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  US President Barack Obama (chats with First Lady Michelle Obama while walking from the White House for Easter Service at St John's Episcopal Church April 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  US President Barack Obama and daughter Malia walk from St John's Episcopal Church after attending Easter Service April 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

• A Little Help With The Sweater

  President Barack Obama watches as first lady Michelle Obama helps their daughter Sasha put on her sweater outside St. John's Episcopal Church after Easter secvice in Washington Sunday, April 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia, right, and Sasha walk across the square from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church for Easter service in Washington Sunday, April 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

• Obamas Walk To Easter Service

  President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia, right, and Sasha walk accross the square from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church for Easter service in Washington Sunday, April 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Comments

[elkinken]

07:06 PM on 03/31/2013

Ok nothing here on what the Pastor said. I would be interested in knowing what the message. I am sure it was one of unity, peace, and we should love one another. I don't know why Huff post didn't mention it.

[Willow712]

07:22 PM on 04/20/2012

Malia is getting so tall! She's taller than her Mom, and is probably going to be several inches taller than Michelle. she's the basketball player, I bet.

[Caleb Joshua Reynolds]

12:37 PM on 04/13/2012

What a crappy Muslim he must be

[ussuri]

06:14 PM on 04/13/2012

Sunni or Shia ?

[Caleb Joshua Reynolds]

11:35 PM on 04/14/2012

Sufi, actually.

[giovanna40]

10:18 PM on 04/10/2012

The president actually went up for communion......really...is that to wipe the faces of the people.........

[saynotoreligion]

12:34 PM on 04/10/2012

all religions make me SICK. its awful that humans can believe this nonsense. its great for the ones in power and get to manipulate the human race. . religion is a disgrace for human existences..
as an Agnostic I know the world will be different once we stop seeing skin color and religion.

[petelconsult]

04:34 PM on 04/10/2012

Please pray for our President..........
Psalm 109:8 ! ! !

[giovanna40]

10:19 PM on 04/10/2012

what 4

[YeshuaH]

12:48 AM on 04/11/2012

May that be your portion in Jesus Name. Amen.

[HugoChavez]

09:28 PM on 04/13/2012

well good for you.

[Salty too]

10:55 AM on 04/10/2012

Twice a year Christians. Christmas and Easter. How worldly and transparent. And of course make sure those cameras are ready. After all it is election time.

[petelconsult]

04:28 PM on 04/10/2012

In California we call them "Chreasters". LOL
How could they receive Communion????????

[Salty too]

06:02 PM on 04/10/2012

Jesus said a luke warm Christian makes him puke. O dosen't even play the part well.

[pmb1]

09:22 PM on 04/10/2012

Read the story. He went to church very recently, and goes regularly. Of course, the whole business of being President means he can't make it along every week.

[jbarelli]

03:04 AM on 04/12/2012

The folks making the hateful comments aren't likely to change their opinions based on anything as insignificant as the facts.

Facts, after all, have a known liberal bias.

[Maure BriggsCarrington]

09:45 AM on 04/10/2012

What a sham ! WHAT teenage girl walks in public, holding her mother's hand ?! LOL Teens ? Moms of teens ? Any takers ?

[gsloverncheek]

12:51 PM on 04/10/2012

I dont see anything wrong with it. I think its a sign of affection, must of which many families are lacking today.

[pmb1]

09:23 PM on 04/10/2012

So because you don't hold your daughter's hand nobody who does is being truthful but is just 'acting'?

[detroitblkmale30]

08:49 AM on 04/10/2012

Its really sad when doing something so basic as going to church on Easter can cause such criticism. c'mon people.

[Maure BriggsCarrington]

09:46 AM on 04/10/2012

They're not going to church on Easter. They're participating in a performance. Public performance art !

[detroitblkmale30]

11:11 AM on 04/10/2012

Considering they go to church on days NOT called Easter, you are going to have to offer more evidence than your opinion.

[LibRule]

02:57 PM on 04/15/2012

It is easy to see the Obamas are far more christian than YOU are.

[fern1000]

03:52 PM on 04/03/2013

It's only sad when it's for show!

[Graham7720]

07:44 AM on 04/10/2012

I attended the Christmas Eve service at St John's church. Highlight of my visit to DC.

[Marvell Martin]

11:17 PM on 04/09/2012

Here they go even on Easter .....

[LibRule]

02:58 PM on 04/15/2012

Being a loving family?

[wondernurse]

07:06 PM on 04/09/2012

He took communion? Wow, big no no.

[Darren Elzie]

10:32 PM on 04/09/2012

The Episcopal Church practices open communion. Any baptized Christian may receive communion in both parts.

[pmb1]

09:24 PM on 04/10/2012

Some churches don't even mind whether you're baptised or not, it's welcome to all believers of all denominations and no denomination.

[giovanna40]

10:22 PM on 04/10/2012

so what's he doing?......he's a baptized christian......

[Maure BriggsCarrington]

09:43 AM on 04/10/2012

With all the murders he's responsible for ?! Whoa !!!

[gsloverncheek]

12:55 PM on 04/10/2012

You should really be more careful of the words you type.

[mesa123]

03:38 PM on 09/29/2012

The person that is responsible for thousands of unnecessary deaths is Mr. Bush when we invaded Iraq.

[mike90069]

05:10 PM on 04/09/2012

I will say they are one of the most elegant & stunning muslim families Ive ever seen!

[dnorah]

07:27 PM on 04/09/2012

So, you think taqqiya.

[Gg117]

08:20 PM on 04/09/2012

Sadly, it's not the Muslims we should be cautious of. It's desire of the Roman Catholic church to have "preeminence" in the world the way it once had during the Dark Ages. Prophetically, it's coming..
Catholic Power Vs. American Freedom [Hardcover]
George LA Piana (Author), John M. Swomley (Author), Herbert F. Vetter (Author, Editor

[riverhouse]

03:54 PM on 04/09/2012

That family is as handsome as they come and the family values they exhibit have been a long time coming to the White House. Neither Reagan nor Bush ever went to church but no one from the nutters wants to admit that.

[ablacks657]

06:17 PM on 04/09/2012

WRONG! I know for a fact that Pres and Laura Bush attended chapel at Camp David, which is where they 'vacationed' most of the time -- no big trips at ome of our friends were stationed at Camp David and worshipped with them. The Reagans were Presbyterian.

[dnorah]

07:37 PM on 04/09/2012

lol Bush didn't go to church? The Obamas go only during an election year. Whereas Bush went at other times, too. - Keeping those lies flowing, riverhouse....... Hey, you hear Jerry Wright's Easter message? You know, Obama's "former" mentor, spiritual advisor & close friend. Was it in Wright's church or his home Michelle had her rant against White people? You know the meeting that Mrs. Farrakcon attended.

[vobox3343]

03:07 PM on 04/09/2012

I would have loved seeing Mrs. Obama in one of those Sunday morning hats. She would have looked stunning.

[LeFlaneur]

02:32 PM on 04/09/2012

To be a right winger in America you need to believe two concepts simultaneously.

1. That Obama is a Muslim
2. That Obama highly influenced by a radical Christian minister/church in Chicago.

There's this thing they call cognitive dissonance and it appears to be the hallmark of the right these days.

[nevertofarleft]

03:45 PM on 04/09/2012

THANK YOU....been saying that for years....I wish the Obama's would go back to Reverend Wrights Church just for that reason.

[send4pizza]

08:24 AM on 04/10/2012

Reverend Wright is dark-skinned and advocates a radical belief in justice for all. Curiously, there was a dark-skinned preacher 2000 years ago who had a radical belief in justice for all people, not just the wealthy and powerful. Luckily for Reverend Wright, the wealthy and powerful of today can now only figuratively crucify him, not perform the actual physical act.

[dnorah]

07:42 PM on 04/09/2012

Prestestants generally go to a church because of its minister - they like his message. BTW: you hear Jerry W's Easter sermon? -- Four more years of Obama and Wright will be blatantly visiting the White House, along with Farrakcon, King Shabazz & the Muslim Brotherhood. - If you think Barry didn't agree with Jerry, you're fooling yourself.

[LeFlaneur]

11:52 PM on 04/09/2012

Thanks for being "Exhibit A." You are doing exactly what I pointed out.