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St. John's Episcopal Church a part of presidential history

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    Worship tradition dates back to James Madison

  • Duration 3:38
  • Date

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This transcript is automatically generated

From 197.

Years American presidents have been making their short trip from the White House a few hundred yards to the corner of sixteenth and eight.

Eight streets.

And tomorrow just hours before his second inauguration Barack Obama will make that same journey.

Here's our power player of the.

You know that -- being part of American history and this is up from my perspective.

It's little celebration of American line if the reverend Luis -- -- as rector of saint John's episcopal church.

And he's talking about the tradition of the president attending a worship service there on the morning of his inauguration.

My hope is that it gives on the president and -- For a pause if you will to have a some time with meditation.

And that the president feels inspired.

And ready to take to suppose this awesome responsibility that he's about to take from -- and a few -- -- was Franklin Roosevelt who started the custom.

That -- jobs across Lafayette square from the White House has been linked to presidents for almost two centuries.

It has a very special place because of -- one and says location location location who was the first president to worship here.

James Madison -- -- first president of the church was finish and 1816.

And how many presidents of worship here since every one.

During the civil war Lincoln used to worship at saint John's on Sunday evenings.

President Lincoln would come after the service had started.

Sit in the very back -- of the church right back there right in the very back of the church he didn't want to disturb the congregation while they were worshipping.

So he came late.

And he left her but Madison sat in the middle of the church and pew 54.

And -- has become the president's view.

When word gets out that the president's coming to worship and you almost feel like to church is gonna tilt over on one -- -- so many people.

On that one side -- lay on showed us a book of -- signed by every president since Hoover -- challenge.

When a piece of American history Newton -- We pray that you rush hour the elected leaders of this land.

And especially George -- precedent and Richard are vice president.

With your life giving spirit.

Early on gave the invocation at Bush's second inaugural.

He will deliver the benediction for Obama tomorrow.

And he gave us a preview of this message.

The benediction is -- Asking for God's blessing which is calling it costs are forced to our better nature.

And you know my name Greivis concern about where we find ourselves that we're not speaking to each other and we from the broken into camps.

And I tend I think that we have more in common than we have that than that which appliances.

Then he will go back to his normal duties at the church of the presidents.

Part of that he says is treating the president as just a member of the congregations.

I think they're here to be reminded that they're they're one of God's children.

Regardless of what positions they have been life but that doesn't mean he can't get a little excited about a special role safety Sean you're toast this corner succeeds in -- -- -- on your -- you never know who's going to be in church.

Reverend lite on was chosen to give the benediction after another pastor -- out.

Because of what critics called an anti gay sermon he gave back in the nineties.

-- lite on has presided over a handful of same sex marriages he says scripture must be interpreted because it gives us direction.

Not directions.

And not have -- tonight --

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