Obama, family cause a small stir at Easter service

First lady Michelle Obama, left, and President Barack Obama walk to a motorcade from the White House to attend Easter services on Sunday, April 20, 2014, in Washington. The first family attended services at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama may have expected a quiet Easter, but his presence rallied a congregation eager to greet him and his family to the front of the church.

Obama, wife Michelle and their two daughters sat in the second row at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, nearly two miles (three kilometers) north of the White House.

They received a standing ovation during the welcome, with dozens of worshippers gathering around to shake the Obamas’ hands and take pictures.

The senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins, joked that he didn’t realize so many people were sitting in the front section. The pastor repeated “Amen” in a call for people to return to their seats.

The service included a sermon titled “Resurrection Realities” and a praise dance and trumpet-led hymn.