Church, coffee kicks off Obama's inauguration day President Barack Obama, accompanied by his daughters Sasha and Malia, first lady Michelle Obama and mother-in-law Marian Robinson, waves as they arrive at St. John's Church in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for a church service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. / AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin As has been done 11 other times by presidents since President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Obama, his family and Vice President Joe Biden and his family kicked off the day's inaugural ceremonies by attending service at St. John's Episcopal Church. The pale yellow and white-columned church is situated directly across the street from the White House and has been a common place of worship for many presidents. During today's special service, a 12-person choir in white robes sang a variety of hymns, including "Amazing Grace." During the sermon, Pastor Andy Stanley, from North Point Church in Alpharetta, Ga., thanked the president for his work and message after the massacre in Newtown, Conn, where 27 people were killed in December. He said the president should be called the "pastor in chief," according to pool reports. Following church, the president and his family headed back to the White House for a coffee with congressional leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.