Obamas attend Sunday service at historic church

[August 20, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has attended a worship service at a historic church steps away from the White House.

Accompanied by his wife, Michelle, and daughters Sasha and Malia on the mild, overcast morning, Obama walked through Lafayette Square to St. John's Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Michael Angell delivered a sermon from John 6 about the extended metaphor of eating Jesus' flesh. Angell urged the crowd to not feed into the hatred and violence of the world, but to "inwardly digest Christ's message of self-surrender."

Angell mentioned a summer of violence, including the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting and a shooting last week at the Family Research Council nine blocks from the church.

The Obamas, all wearing shades of blue, participated in Holy Communion before motorcading back to the White House.

[Associated Press; By STACY A. ANDERSON]

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