Obama family attends Easter service

The presence of President Obama and his family at an Easter service on Sunday created quite a stir during greeting time.

Dr. Derrick Harkins, pastor of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, asked worshippers to stand, turn, and welcome their neighbors -- but to remain in place.

That admonition went by the wayside as people hurried down to the second row pew featuring the president, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha.

As they all shook hands, exchanged greetings, and posed for smart phone photos, pastor Harkins joked, "I didn't know we had as many people seated in this front section!"

Greeting time took about 10 minutes.

"Isn't our First Family gracious?" Harkins said.

]At one point during the service, a man stood up some distance from the president, raised his arms, and yelled, "God Bless President Obama!" Worshippers applauded loudly.

Harkins urged everyone to join in prayer and offered thanks to God for providing comfort to those in need, including the sick and struggling. He asked that God give Obama "every measure of encouragement" and "wisdom," and "tend to his spirit" under the weight of criticism.

The crowded responded "yes" to those requests.

A statement from the White House:

"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."