🚋🚋🚋🚋2016 November 12, Saturday, Pathway to Prayer Trolley Tour

I ran back to the van for my jacket and camera and at 11 AM I jumped aboard the open-air trolley for a tour of Pathways to Prayer by Lee Freeman.
A tour of downtown Florence's houses of Worship.
I sat in the section with no windows so I could take pictures.
We stopped at St Mark's's MB church built around 1859, the second oldest black church in Florence.
Looked like they were having a yard sale in the parking lot.

St Marks MB Church 

St Joseph Catholic Church

Bethel CP Church

We travel down the road to Bethel CP Church built around 1897 also a black church.
Our next stop was St Joseph Catholic Church built around 1878, their priest was Benedict Manges.
This church overlooks the very large Florence Cemetery. My neighbor's kids went to school at St Joseph's.
Our next stop was at the First Baptist Church on Wood Avenue next door to the Florence Library. This church purchased the old Florence Library and uses it for classrooms. Their parking lot is full during events at Wilson Park and First Fridays downtown.

 First Baptist Church

Also on Wood Avenue, we visited Wood Avenue Chruch of Christ once called Popular Street Christian Church, built around 1886. It is located across the road from the Florence Library and faces the Florence Library.

Wood Avenue Church of Christ 

We rode passed many old historic homes on Wood Avenue.

Our next stop was 201 East Hawthorne St at the Temple B'Nai Israel built in 1906 by Reformed Jewish families.

Temple B'Nai Israel 

Our next stop was Calvary Fellowship of the Church of the Shoals located at 424 E Tombigbee St it is a non-denominational Church.

Calvary Fellowship of the Church of the Shoals

The First Presbyterian Church is located on Mobile Street across the street from the US Post Office, Ledgens, and Shoals Theater. It was built around 1818 the oldest church in Florence. Its pastor was Rev Gideon Blackburn

First presbyterian church 

We rode past Regions Bank which was built as a replica of the Forks of Cypress

Regions Bank Greek Revival building with a two-story colonnade composed of 24 columns. 

Across the street was the First Methodist Church built around 1822 it is the second oldest church. Founded by John Coz and John Kerr.

First Methodist Church

Trinity Episcopal Church third oldest church built around 1824 by Rev William Spencer Wall.
In front of their church was a sign that read: We are P.A.W.S. RESCUE ADOPT FOSTER
Our mission: Creating a more humane and caring environment for animals in Northwest Alabama. Partnering with local animal control & law enforcement for community assistance to help homeless, unwanted, and abused pets.

Trinity Episcopal Church

Tennessee Valley Community Church and Center was our last stop

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Psalm 73 Why do the wicked prosper ?

A psalm of Asaph.

1 Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
    I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
    they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
    with arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Highest know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

13 Surely in vain, I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All-day long I have been afflicted,
    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;    then I understood their final destiny.

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
    you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
    completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.

21 When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward, you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;
    you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;    I will tell of all your deeds.