They may have been singing old hymns, but the 2,000 people who marched Sunday across the Edmund Pettus Bridge definitely had a new song.

Organized by the local faith community, the aptly named “Unity Walk” represented a homecoming of sorts.

“We want the world to know that we’re not the Selma of 1965. We’ve grown. We’ve moved beyond that,” said the Rev. Jerry Light of First Baptist Church. “We’re dedicated and devoted to the Lord’s work here in Selma. We’re proud of Selma. The future holds no limits for what you are willing to do if you continue to love one another.”

The walk started on the Selmont side of the bridge, heralded by blasts from shofars, a horn used in Jewish services. The march followed under the banner of a quilt containing 176 squares representing all things Selma.

As they walked, participants sung hymns like “This Little Light of Mine” and “Down by the Riverside.”

After crossing the Alabama River, the group gathered for a prayer vigil at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

“It’s always a great delight of mine to look into the faces of those who see tomorrow as a greater day than today,” said the Rev. Frederick D. Reese, who was part of the Courageous Eight who invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Selma in 1965.

Juanda Maxwell and Jamie Alvey, who had the vision for the project, presented the quilt to Selma Mayor George Evans. It will be displayed at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library.

“God has always had a vision for Selma. We just need to receive it,” said Juanda Maxwell. “We can all work together. If we can take this and move forward, Selma can be a brighter and better place.”

The quilt was a major draw Sunday as people gathered before and after the walk to find their squares and take pictures. But it’s nothing compared to the patchwork that makes Selma special, Light said.

“This quilt is beautiful, but it’s not nearly as beautiful as all of you. You are the living tapestry of Selma. God bless you for what you are doing,” Light said. “God is already blessing Selma through you.”