Glenn and I (Jean) [Burns] have been asked to be a Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation (CCHSF) Field Representative. We gladly said - "yes!" We are excited about sharing the story of our church's Heritage as well as preserving this heritage through the support of our historical sites.
We will be sending information about our historical sites biweekly -I do hope you will share this letter and this information with your congregation.

The goals for this foundation are:
1. To raise funds and identify resources to benefit the preservation and development of Community of Christ Historic Sites - to include finding volunteers to work at the historic sites.
2. To assist in acquiring appropriate artifacts for use at these sites
3. To raise general awareness of the benefits and needs of the Historic Sites

Those are the goals for this foundation, as well as ours - - but we want to encourage you and your congregation to learn more about these sites; plan a personal or perhaps group visit to these sites; support the sites either by volunteering your time and work or perhaps contribute funds to support the sites and volunteers.

(a message about volunteer opportunities from the World Church)

Glenn and I have visited most of the sites and each site we have visited has left us with a wonderful, calming spirit. A feeling of renewal. We were fortunate to have a personal tour of Nauvoo by our son, GJ. GJ served as an intern last summer at the grounds. GJ shared his testimony and knowledge of the history of Nauvoo - he brought to life the church as we walked the grounds. Latter that evening we sat on a bench on the grounds overlooking the Mississippi - - wow - what a feeling of peace, a sense of the straggles the Saints went through, the discovery of what God intended for us at that time as well as how this History brought us to where we are today.

We would love to share our experiences,    
  the history of the sites, 
      more information on volunteering at the sites 
	        (from a minimum of 2 weeks to whatever length)
                  As well as info on how to contribute to preserve			
	                      these sites for future generations

   	We would love to help plan your visit to these grounds - -

   We can provide information via:
	    In person - a personal visit to your congregation 
		   Email - send you information, etc 
		       Telephone - call and talk -
		           Mail - send you brochures, information

   We have two wonderful CD's we can share with you and your congregation - 
we can do whatever you desire - - just give us a call - - we would love to share    
the story of our Heritage - -
   
Here is a link to an order of a service we put together for our Snyder congregation highlighting
our Historic Sites.  I did not include all the readings, but just our order of service.  
If you would like to present something similar to your congregation, please feel free to use 
this outline - all of it, part of it, etc.  If you would like the readings, info for each historic site, 
etc. - please let me know and we will gather the info and send it to you.  

We also have a cd - a short one that we played during the serivce (about 5 min or so - with 
music and pictures of the sites) - there is also another CD with an introduction by W. Wallace
Smith introducing Kirtland and Navuoo sites - which would be good for Sunday School, etc. -
you can get this one from the Herald House - if you need help, let me know.  You probably 
have received the mailing from CCHSF in the mail in the last day or so - it contains an 
envelope for contributions to the foundation.  Glenn and I also have applications for anyone
that would like to volunteer at the sites - they need garderners, maintanance, interpreters, 
etc.  They will train and voluenteers can stay at the sites - there are even trailer spots (at 
some of the spots) for those that would like to take their trailers.  If anyone is planning on 
visiting the sites, let me know and we can get them all the information they will need.  If your 
congregation would like to set up a tour of the sites or make a contribution as a congregation
 - let us know and we will help in any way possible.  Just let us know what we can do for you 
and your congregation   

Please feel free to contact Glenn or Jean [Burns] at 325 573-7446 or by email at
   glenn.burns@sbcglobal .net   

Biweekly we will send out copies of information about the historical sites ~   
 Have a wonderful day and be sure to give us a call
   Glenn and Jean

Sample Order of service for    

For more information about the foundation, visit: http://www.historicsitesfoundation.org
  

Historic Sites
The Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation, Preserving and Sharing the Church's Heritage, supports several sites that are of significance in the life of the church. They include:

Kirtland Temple

Nestled in the charming hills of northeastern Ohio, this "House of the Lord" stands as a vivid reminder that Kirtland was once home to some of the 19lh century's most successful community builders.
Inspired by the beliefs and practices of the earliest Christians, followers of Joseph Smith Jr., gathered in Kirtland and built their first temple between 1833 and 1836. Using local sandstone and native timber from surrounding forests, the people worked together to construct what was then one of the largest buildings in northern Ohio,
The Kirtland Temple stood at the center of community life for more than 2,000 believers by 1838. Within a year, ail but 100 were gone. The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark.