President Barack Obama and his family celebrated Easter at St. Johns Church, the first public worship services for the president since he took office. Parishioners passed through metal detectors on 16th Street prior to the Episcopal service at 11 am EDT (1500 GMT) Sunday. People gathered across the street in Lafayette Park in anticipation of the presidents visit.
Inside, the service began with organ, brass and percussion fanfare. Obama and other worshippers heard readings from the book of Exodus, the gospel of Mark and other traditional Easter selections. Located across from the White House, St. Johns is popular with presidents. President George W. Bush often attended services there, and church history contends that every president since James Madison, the nations fourth chief executive, has visited.
There was no indication from White House officials that Obama was seeking membership at St. Johns. The president and his family attended a private service there on Inauguration Day on January 20, a tradition for those about to become president.
Where a president worships _ and whether he goes to church at all _ tends to draw political as well as social significance. For Obama, his place of worship has been of keen interest because of the role his religion played in the 2008 presidential campaign.
Obama attended Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago until controversial remarks about race and other issues by its pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, led Obama to leave the church. Throughout the campaign Obama dismissed rumours that he was not a Christian but actually a Muslim.
St. Johns is convenient as well as traditional for presidents seeking church services. A pew nine rows back from the altar carries a small brass plaque designating it as ``The Presidents Pew.
Both the Secret Service and parish officials are used to the demands for security when a president visits. The first service at St. Johns took place in October 1816. Abraham Lincoln walked to St. Johns during the Civil War in search of a private moment to pray. The day after John F. Kennedys assassination, the new president, Lyndon B. Johnson, prayed there.
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