US | Barack Obama Obama Attends Nat'l Prayer Service By Kevin Spak Posted Jan 21, 2009 10:35 AM CST Copied President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, his wife Jill, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Rodham Clinton attend a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) Barack and Michelle Obama attended the traditional prayer service at the National Cathedral this morning, the AP reports, a custom dating back to the nation's first president. The newly-minted president sat in the front pew along with Joe and Jill Biden and Bill and Hillary Clinton for a rousing service, which included prayers, hymns, and readings from a variety of faiths and denominations. The service was led by a woman for the first time. Read These Next A government shutdown could mean permanent layoffs. Judge demands answers from Trump administration on Mangione comments. It's one of the best lottery pool stories you'll ever read. Trash bags, zip ties, bleach caught delivery driver's attention. Report an error