President Obama will worship with a District congregation this Easter Sunday, a visit that comes at a time when president has been quietly working to improve his ties with faith leaders, particularly those in the African American community.

The White House declined to specify the church the first family will attend, citing a desire not to disturb the congregation by attracting gawkers.

Aides to the president say that during his first year in office he has built strong and lasting ties to black churches, from meeting with senior African American church leaders who are part of his advisory panel on faith to crafting initiatives with African American groups across the country. Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, holds weekly calls with clergy -- and also gives the president a daily Bible verse.

Church leaders who have frequented the White House included Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Charles E. Blake of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ and T. DeWitt Smith, Jr., president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

While members of the Congressional Black Caucus and others have accused the president of not doing enough for the black community, Smith said he is pleased with how the president has reached out to the faith community. "We didn't expect him to solve all of America problem and we don't expect it now," Smith said.

Every time the president worships in the District it sets up a frenzy for space in the pews.

His first District church visit was to the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church on the eve of the inaugural. Last Easter, he worshipped at St. John's Church on Lafayette Square; in January, he attended services at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church. On several occasions the first family have attended services at Camp David.

Though Obama's visits to D.C. churches have been few, he has impressed those who have seen him in a religious context. "I believe he has a genuine respect and regard for worship and the importance of it and , that he weighs heavily on how his presence might impact worship for others," said the Rev. Derrick Harkins, senior pastor at Nineteenth Street Baptist. "He takes worship seriously."