Obamas Celebrate Easter Sunday in Old Town Alexandria: Reports

PHOTO of first family posted to social media Sunday morning by President Obama. Blockaded street, photo by Susan Swain

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- President Obama and his family celebrated Easter Sunday at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Old Town Alexandria, according to TIME magazine and other media reports. It's the second year in a row the first family has worshiped at the church on Easter Sunday. Streets are blocked around the church until 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

The first family, Barack Obama, 54, wife Michelle Obama, 52, and daughters Malia, 17, and Sasha, 14 arrived Sunday morning under overcast skies and a chilly 50 degrees in Alexandria. The service is streaming live here.

Photos posted to social media showed metal detectors set up at the church entrances.

"Michelle and I join our fellow Christians in observing Good Friday and celebrating Easter this weekend," the President said in a statement Sunday. "This is a time to remember the sacrifices made for us and hold all who suffer close to our hearts. Yet it is also a time to rejoice, give thanks for the Resurrection, and unite with Christians around the world in proclaiming, "Christ has risen; He has risen indeed." We wish all who celebrate a blessed and joyful Easter."

The more than 200-year old Alfred Street Baptist Church, located at 301 S. Alfred St. in Old Town Alexandria, is about an eight-mile drive from the White House. The church is led by the Rev. Howard-John Wesley, who took home the 2016 NAACP 2016 Chairman's Image Award earlier this year. Services were scheduled Sunday at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The senior pastor features a photo of himself and the Obamas on his personal Twitter account. The church is led by Wesley, installed Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 as the eighth pastor of the historic church.

The Obamas have often visited Alexandria during their years in the White House with visits to Del Ray's Dairy Godmother, Del Ray Pizzeria, FireFlies and in Old Town at Restaurant Eve, The Majestic, Union Street Public House and Vermilion.

The Obamas returned this week from a trip to Cuba and Argentina; the president played golf Saturday. The presidential motorcade got stuck in traffic on the way back to the White House due to residents and tourists visiting DC's cherry blossoms, at peak bloom Saturday, according to several media reports. On Monday, the Obamas will host the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House.