This is Gina. Found this fabulous photo of the First Family at Easter services at Allen Chapel AME in Southeast DC. Love this photo.
Why was Marion Berry there? Here is the pool report. I’ll let it speak for itself. The writer needs to get out more:
President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Melia and Sasha and Mrs. Marian Robinson, mother of Mrs. Obama, attended 11 a.m. Easter services at the Allen Chapel, African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Southeast Washington’s Ward 8.
The motorcade left the North Portico at 10:45 a.m. (The South Lawn was set up for the Monday Easter Egg Roll), rolled down 15th Street, past the Tidal Basis where throngs were examining the faded cherry blossoms, to the church at 2498 Alabama Av. SE. The Church’s subtitle is “The Cathedral of Southeast.’’
The overflow crowd of congregants was standing, clapping and singing “Alleilua’’ when the first family entered via a side door at 11:05 a.m. and walked along the edge of the sanctuary to sit far stage right in the second pew, setting off applause, cheers and cell-phone cameras. The altar was flanked by the American flag, in front of the Obama’s pew, and the Episcopal Church’s flag on stage left.
The pool was positioned at the back of the church, 20 pews behind the Obama family. Ten badged ushers in dark suits and bowties and white gloves lined the two aisles.
A 50-person choir arrayed on three rows in the sanctuary facing the congregation sang several gospel songs, clapping and waving to the beat of a key-board ensemble. The president swayed gently to the strong beat and the amped-up sound system.
A number of speakers referred to the president’s attendance. “The president of the United States and his family,’’ “our black president,’’ “the commander in chief,’’
The Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell Sr., pastor of the church, referred to the president as the “most intelligent, most anointed, most charismatic president of American.’’ He called Mrs. Obama “his beautiful wife – TV cameras don’t do her justice.’’
“God has His hand all over you,’’ Pastor Bell said, referring to the president. “Anyone would be foolish to come up against him.’’
Pastor Bell called Mrs. Robinson “a true AMEer’’ who was “born an AMEer.’’
Pastor Bell said it “was no accident that he (Obama) is here in light of what happed here last Tuesday,’’ referring to the drive-by shooting deaths of four people in the African American community in one of the worst outbreaks of violence in recent Washington history. The president’s presence was “helping our community heal,’’ Pastor Bell said.
Pastor Bell said attendees included Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and his famly and Marion Barry, D.C. Council Member from Ward 8.
Mrs. Obama wore a cream-colored scooped-back elbow-length dress. The president wore a dark suit. Melia wore a pink desk and Mrs. Robinson wore a bright rose-colored dress. Your pooler could not spot Sasha.
Pastor Bell announced that the Obama family would leave after they receive communion. The first family kneeled at the communion rail, far stage right, as the Rt. Rev. Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., presiding bishop, recited the Lord’s Prayer and then distributed communion, starting far stage left and working his way to the first family. Communion consisted of wafers and individual thimble-size glasses of grape juice.
Mortorcade departed church at 12:50 p.m., back to the White House at 1:04 p.m.
