The first family has gone to church on this Easter Sunday, according to the White House pool reporter.
“We arrived at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria at 10:25 after an uneventful motorcade ride, with a few onlookers snapping photos as we drove past the Washington Monument,” writes the pool reporter.
The White House says, “This morning, the First Family is celebrating Easter with the congregation of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. The pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church is Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley.
“The President and First Family have also enjoyed worshipping with a number of other D.C.-area congregations, including those at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, 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.”
UPDATE: Here’s the follow-on report from the White House pool:
A choir of about 70 people is up front, nearly everyone clad in purple. Two banners, on either side of a wooden cross, read, “Hallelujah” and “He Lives.” There are two large television screens showing video from the service, and lyrics to the hymns. The congregation is predominantly African American.
After the singing stopped, the pastor Dr. Howard-John Wesley came to the front.
“How fitting that on the day we celebrate the rising of our Lord and savior, we also welcome our sitting president,” he said, as the congregation began to applaud and also welcomed the First Lady.
The pastor encouraged the crowd to stay in their seats.
“This is not selfie time,” he said to laughter. “Let the brother worship in the house of God.”
The pool is in the last row of the church. The first family is up front and we don’t have a great view.
During an infectious rendition of the hymn “He Lives,” the congregation rose as a soloist sang with passion and the keyboardist took a solo. POTUS rose to his feet, too, and he could be seen from behind bobbing his head, clapping, and swaying a bit.
Singing continues. We are told we will be here until right after the sermon.
