President Obama began the official starting date of his second term Sunday morning by attending a worship service at Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic black church in Washington D.C.

Before being officially sworn-in as president of the United States around noon today, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama joined the worship service at Metropolitan AME church, where he also attended last year on the day before Martin Luther King Day.

The first family arrived at around 9:45 a.m. with the gospel choir already singing, according to The Washington Post. Senior Pastor Ronald E. Braxton introduced Obama while his wife, Pastor Marie P. Braxton welcomed Michelle Obama. The congregation sang "Happy Birthday" to the first lady who turned 49 on Thursday.

A picture posted on Twitter by Gwen Jackson of TV Legal News showed the president standing in the pews with his daughters Malia and Sasha.

Metropolitan AME, one of the oldest African American congregations in D.C., has twice hosted pre-Inaugural services for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

"This follows a long tradition for the president of the United States to worship in our national cathedral," Braxton told the Post. "This year we are celebrating our 175th anniversary."

At around noon, Obama was sworn in Sunday to a second presidential term during a private ceremony at the White House. The oath was administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. The president was sworn in with a Bible belonging to the family of his wife, first lady Michelle Obama.

Vice President Joe Biden was sworn in a little after 8:21 a.m. at his residence at the Naval Observatory. Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered the oath.

Obama usually attends St. John's Church on Lafayette Square, which is lead by Rev. Luis Leon, the pastor who will deliver his inaugural benediction Monday. However, for the past four years, the president has spent the Sunday before Martin Luther King day attending an African American church.

When Obama is publicly sworn-in as the president during the Inaugural Ceremony on Monday, he will be using two Bibles , one belonging to civil rights icon Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the other to abolitionist President Abraham Lincoln.