Story and Video at CBS2:

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright made a surprise appearance in Chicago Friday night. Wright, Sen. Barack Obama’s former pastor appeared at Saint Sabina church to hear famed African American poet Maya Angelou speak, and only CBS 2 cameras were there. …

Wright received a thunderous welcome. The audience had no idea the man at the center of a national political firestorm for the past three weeks was even coming to their church.

Rev. Wright was invited by Saint Sabina’s pastor, Father Michael Pfleger to attend an event at which Maya Angelou spoke. She was the main draw of the church’s African American speaking series. …

People who know Wright believe it is clear the ordeal has taken a toll. It is not clear how the pastor feels about the senator distancing himself from him, his spiritual advisor of 20 years. …

Wright did not mention Obama, nor the controversial tapes that won’t go away. He simply gave the benediction, and received another round of thunderous applause.