Seriously though – outside of The Agonist, where I've been hanging out since before the war in Iraq began and which held my sanity together during that time – this is one of the smartest (and relaxed) places I've been in good while. Truly.

Seriously though – outside of The Agonist, where I've been hanging out since before the war in Iraq began and which held my sanity together during that time – this is one of the smartest (and relaxed) places I've been in good while. Truly.

http://ilivetoshop.typepad.com/vibrant_life/200…

Have 2 HURRY – - 'cause the MEDS R tryin' 2 kick in! :>)

+ St. John's Church: Obamas Choose Easter Service (VIDEO)

UPDATED BELOW WITH DETAILS FROM THE SERVICE

From a pool report just sent out to White House reporters:

News – POTUS and First Family are attending church for EasterServices at St. John's Church north of Lafayette Park, just across from White House.

More to come.

The website for St. John's listed its Easter Day services:

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

7:45 a.m.: Holy Eucharist and Homily

9:00 a.m.: Festival Holy Eucharist

11:00 a.m.: Festival Holy Eucharist

1:00 p.m.: La Sana Eucaristia
Story continues below

At 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., music for choir, organ, brass and timpani.

According to a historical website for the Decatur House, also located by Lafayette Square, the church played a notable role during the civil rights era:

Though African Americans had been married by St. John's rector in the 1840s, in 1960, the church had no African-American members. As the Civil Rights Movement gathered force, the Church leadership recognized the need to actively welcome parishioners of all races. In August 1963, the same month that saw the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom during which the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. made his “I Have a Dream” speech, St. John's Reverend John C. Harper sent a letter to his parishioners that read, “This church building is open, as it has always been, to all who want to worship here; the ministry of this parish is extended to any who seek it; our fellowship one with another has no limitations whatsoever.” On the day of the March on Washington, over 700 people meeting for the march filled St. John's.

The Obamas attended church at St. John's on the morning of Barack Obama's inauguration in January (he was the fifth president to attend St. John's on inauguration morning, a tradition that began with President Franklin Roosevelt.)

UPDATE: Details on the service from a second pool report, also filed by Washington Times reporter Christina Bellantoni:

Tick-tock – At 10:48 the First Family emerged from the residence. From where we were in the motorcade, we could only see FLOTUS Michelle Obama and one of the Obama daughters. At that point we could not see outfits, but later in church Mrs. Obama and the girls appeared to be wearing matching white or cream-colored sweaters. The first lady was wearing a white or cream-colored floral skirt or dress. POTUS wore dark suit even though we spotted at least 4 parishioners in seersucker suits.

As the motorcade (en route less than 2 minutes) stopped and we ran to catch up with POTUS, huge cheers erupted from the gathering Easter crowd.

We arrived at 10:53 am.

Service started right at 11, and from press pool spot in back pew, I at first could not see POTUS or first family. Fortunately AP superstar, the much-taller-than-me Phil Elliott, spotted POTUS. He sat at least six rows back from the front of the church, and it was impossible to see the girls even from standing position while everyone else was seated. Two agents were seated in the pew behind POTUS.

Parishioners arriving went through two mags set up outside the entrance. Your pool spotted several little girls in their Easter best with their arms straight out as they went through security.

Rev. Luis Leon, rector, told congregants it was his 15th Easter service at the church.

His sermon included references to famous poets E.E. Cummings and Emily Dickinson, hating the New York Yankees and a shout-out to POTUS-picked NCAA tournament winners the UNC Tarheels. Some quotes to follow in next pool report.

A writer's pool only was allowed into the church while the others had to wait with the motorcade.

The service was heavy with songs performed by lovely choir and brass ensemble. Among the selected hymns – Alleluia, Jesus Christ is risen today, A song of praise, Come, ye faithful, Welcome happy morning.

Readings were:
Exodus 14:10-14, 21-25, 15:20-21
Acts 10:34-43
Mark 16:1-8

A brief mention of President Obama in the program, which served for both the 9 am and 11 am services.

During prayers of the people, led by Robert Black:

“Guide and bless us in our work and play, and shape the patterns of our political and economic life; we pray for Barack, our President, the leaders of Congress, and the Supreme Court, and all who are in authority; for Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and the Middle East, that all people may be filled through the bounty of your creation.”

Response from entire church: “We are your servants, O God. Guide us in your grace.”

Other than that, there was no mention of president during the service.

The president and first lady stood to briefly greet parishioners during the “peace be with you” portion. FLOTUS had her hair down and straight.

We also could not see if they placed money in the offertory dish as it went by. No one from press pew contributed.

As communion began, congregants snuck peeks at the president and his family. For those wondering, the demographic was at least 90 percent white.

The first family stood to get in line for communion, all smiling.

POTUS went first with communion, followed by Sasha, Malia, and then FLOTUS and an unidentified young girl who looked to be Malia's age.

Smiling wide and seeming to be in great spirits, POTUS returned to his pew. He kept leaning over FLOTUS to talk to his daughters. Several parishioners stopped to say hello to the first family during the long communion session.

Pool escorted out at 12:21, and huge crowds had gathered behind police tape lines on the corner of 16th and H and in Lafayette Park.

A few minutes later, POTUS left from same side door where he'd entered.

Motorcade rolled again at 12:29. Back at White House and stopped at 12:31. Lid called 12:33.

+ President Barack Obama leaves Easter worship services at St. John's Episcopal Church near the White House in Washington, Sunday, April 12, 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) :>)

NOTE: I LIKE HIS SUIT!! :>)] Wooo! Hooo! :>)

+ Annnnd, the FIRST GIRLS!
VERY SWEET!! :>) :>)

+ Now The Day Is Over :>)

G'night! :>) God Bless! :>)

YES!!! GOD IS GOOD!! :>)

HOPE YOUR DAY WENT WELL!! :>)

Back at-choo!! :>) :>)

So sorry you're feeling sick. Glad to hear your day went well. God IS good!

Glad to see you back. Hope you feel better!

Hugs!

+ Obamas attend Easter services

The first family greeted parishioners and took communion at St. John's Episcopal Church, attending Easter Service at a historic church, a short walk from the White House. A crowd of onlookers gathered outside the church as the first family arrived and during prayers, the president, who sat about six rows back from the front pew, was mentioned.

“Guide and bless us in our work and play, and shape the patterns of our political and economic life; we pray for Barack, our President, the leaders of Congress, and the Supreme Court, and all who are in authority; for Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and the Middle East, that all people may be filled through the bounty of your creation.”

The entire church responded: “We are your servants, O God. Guide us in your grace.”

Parishioners had to go through metal detectors before entering the church, which is known as the “church of the presidents” and was frequently attended by George W. Bush.

The scripture readings were drawn from Exodus, Acts and Mark and among the hymns were Alleluia, Jesus Christ is risen today, A song of praise, Come, ye faithful, and Welcome happy morning.

The service lasted about 90 minutes and was led by Rev. Luis Leon.

+ First fam attends Bush's church

The first family is attending Easter service at St. John's Episcopal Church — the historic house of worship known as the “church of the presidents,” which is right across the street from the White House.

Aides to President Barack Obama have said that the first family is still searching for a permanent church home, and several churches in the area are courting the first family.

St. John's Episcopal Church, in Lafayette Square, has been attended by every president dating back to James Madison, and there is a pew reserved for the commander in chief. George W. Bush regularly attended services there.

Obama broke with his previous church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ nearly a year ago, amid controversy over his then-pastor, Jeremiah Wright. The family had not attended a public church service since the Inauguration, and their choice of church for Easter services has been a subject of speculation for the past several days. Large black churches like Metropolitan AME, and Nineteenth Street Baptist Church along with the Foundry United Methodist Church, which the Clintons attended, were said to be on the shortlist of possible churches.

Several aides have been visiting area churches as part of a vetting process, and White House sources have said that Obama has yet to decide on a church to join and have warned over the past few days against reading too much into today's choice.

Josh DuBois, head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, issued a statement on Sunday saying, “The first family has not made a decision yet on which church they will formally join in Washington, but they were honored to worship with the parishioners at St. John's Episcopal Church and at 19th Street Baptist Church earlier this year.”

+ Mrs. O’s Easter Sunday Best

The President and First Lady attended Easter service at St. John’s Episcopal Church on this sunny Sunday morning.

Mrs. O wears a floral v-neck dress, fitted through the bodice with a straight skirt that hits at the knee. She paired the dress with an ivory cardigan and double strand of pearls. In a fresh pastel palette, Mrs. O is perfectly dressed for Easter and a vision of Spring.

We recognize the fabric from Peter Soronen’s Spring / Summer 2009 collection – the dress perhaps customized in design for Mrs. O.

+ President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama leave Easter worship services at St. John's Episcopal Church near the White House in Washington, Sunday, April 12, 2009.

[I LOVED HER DRESS!! :>)]

+ U.S. President Barack Obama (top) pets Bo, a six-month old male Portuguese water dog, as daughters Sasha, Malia (R) and First lady Michelle Obama (L) look on in this White House photograph released April 12, 2009. The dog was a gift from Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy (D) and his wife Victoria to the Obama girls.

+ APRIL 12: In this handout image released by the White House on April 12, 2009, the Obama's new dog, Bo, a six-month old Portuguese water dog sits in the White House in Washington, DC. Bo is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and and his wife Victoria to the President's daughters, Sasha and Malia.
2 CA-UTE!! :>)

ENJOY! :>)

NOW I have the “nerve” to B gettin' “sick.” :>(

Read ' bout the “rescue” of the “CAPTAIN!” GREAT!! :>)

'bout the “pirates”- – - -gotta read more. But I have 2 take some MEDS & rest. :>(

HOPE U'ALL had a wonderful DAY! :>)

Seriously, I'm the only person many people have met from here. No, there's not a large black population here. 1%; the breakdown.

I hope I'm not banned. This is one of the smartest places I've been in a good long while.

I'm unfamiliar with Christie Love, gotz 2 do some research.

Newt Gingrich, among others on the right, have been callously making hay over President Obama's response to the hostage standoff with Somali pirates. I talked about this on Media Lizzy's show on Friday, explaining the most obvious thing in the world. With a US ship's captain still held captive, his life in peril, perhaps broadcasting our intentions to the world was not the brightest idea.

Really, picture this:

Q: Mr. President, what are you going to do about these pirates?!? Huh?!?

President Obama: Well, we've got a secret rescue mission planned for tomorrow…

Newt Gingrich knows this, or ought to, but that didn't keep him from trying to score some points with it. I guess someone pulled him aside and told him to quit being so reasonable. From Gingrich's Twitter feed, Saturday night:
President obama is making a major mistake in not forcefully oulining the rules of civilization for dealing with pirates We look weak12:55 PM Apr 11th from TwitterBerry

The lightbulb just went on.

Reaganism is nothing but a thinly-veiled combination of the platforms of the Constitution Party and the Libertarian Party.

This is why the modern Republicans consider Reagan their deity. The ruler of the shining city on the hill. He rhetoric was theocratic. American exceptionalism?

Strip that down and what do you get?

The chosen people.

Those who follow this kind of politics as religion represent no more than 25% of the voting population. Now, if we had a parliamentary government, that would actually mean something.

But we don't, so it doesn't.

They know it the same as I do.

And that's why they're so loud. So loquacious. So redundant. Dogma is indoctrinated through repetition.

They're numbers will continue to dwindle as the millennial generation ages.

These are people, to quote a wise man, who cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment….

They are time bombs, ticking, ticking, ticking…

Map to find the Constitution Party in your neck of the woods.

Okay, here's my 'local' contact.

And in the middle of the page is the state chairman. Please tell me I'm not seeing who I think I'm seeing.