President Barack Obama and his family attended church on Sunday.

It was his first time in church since September 17, when a poll indicated that nearly half of Americans have doubts about his religious beliefs.

The Obamas arrived in casual dress for the late morning service at the Base Chapel, a small non-denominational church at a Marine Corps base near his vacation home in Hawaii.

Seated in the front row with three Secret Service agents behind them, the family smiled as Chaplin Steve Moses said it was a "special honor" to have them in their church.

The president, his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, sang Christmas carols with the rest of the congregation and also participated in communion. 

In his sermon, Moses joked that the reason God put him through a recent heart surgery was so he wouldn't suffer a heart attack while preaching before the president.

In early afternoon, the president left to enjoy another round of golf at a nearby course.