WASHINGTON (CNN) -
President Barack Obama attended Easter services at the 19th Street Baptist Church on Sunday, a house of worship that he visited the Sunday before he was first inaugurated president in 2009.
There were a number of similarities between Obama's 2009 and 2014 appearances at the historic Baptist church, including the Reverend Dr. Derrick Harkins, who oversaw both services.
"Let me just say, to the first family, to the president of the United States, Barack Obama, to the first lady of the United States, and Miss Malia and Sasha, we welcome you," Harkins said on Sunday, according to a pool reporter at the service.
Harkins instructed worshipers to welcome the opportunity to "surround" the Obama family with "prayers ... [they] certainly deserve."
The congregation then stood and applauded the Obamas, something worshipers did in 2009 as the then-president-elect and his family entered the church. When worshipers were asked to stand and greet others in attendance, a number of people bunched around the first family for about five minutes. The president, according to the pool report, also shook hands with a secret service member sitting behind him.
Harkins directed part of Sunday's prayer at the president, asking God to "Bestow upon him a wisdom that indeed comes from you ... Even yes, when the light of a flame turns into the harsh glare of criticism, tend to his spirit."
Harkins, who preached from Luke 24:13-32, spoke about supporting people "living in the shadows and the margins," including "LGBT" people and the low wage worker, according to the pool report. The pastor also referred to God as "the chief executive of chief executives," a refrain that elicited applause from other worshipers.
During the service, Obama dropped a white paper or envelope into the silver contribution plate that was distributed throughout the church.
The 19th Street Baptist Church was founded in 1839 and was first known as the First Colored Church of Washington. After 135 years at the same location -- 19th and I Street N.W. -- the church moved to its present location on 16th Street N.W.
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Obama attends Easter services at personally important Baptist church