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Showing Love

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I was raised Presbyterian, then married a Baptist. I have had faith since I was a very young girl.

Cleo was born and raised in Howard Lake, along with her five brothers and sisters. She met her husband, Bob, while attending Bethel College and they married in 1959. They have 3 children: Mark, Stephen (& Lisa), and Karen (& Sam Mammano).

Cleo worked as a receptionist at two different veterinary clinics, for 12 years at Buffalo Dental Group, and then owned and ran Windfall Boarding Kennel, west of Buffalo, for 12 years. She enjoys reading, knitting, music, and spending time with her family … especially ‘dates’ with her grandsons who are 13, 15, and 18.

One of my favorite things to do is sing every Tuesday at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Howard Lake.

Her parents, Floyd & Lillian Munson, were instrumental in her faith, and her father always reminded her of Psalm 118:24:

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it

He lived all parts of his life in faith.

Her husband and sister also inspire her in her faith.

Consider it all in joy, my brethren when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3

They know, and have helped me to realize God plans our lives, and his plans are good.

One more verse that is a current favorite for Cleo is Isaiah 40:31:

Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Much of the time I am not good at waiting and this verse reminds me.

Cleo became a member of Zion after meeting Pastor Ed and Karyl Blair through an ecumenical Bible study in the 1970s, and one of the things she loves most about the congregation is the outreach to all people.

She has been involved with music, Bible studies, caring ministries, and more over the years, but when she saw an item in the Sunday Bulletin about Zion’s new clothing closet last year, she knew it would be special.

The Blessing Closet is one of many gap ministries in the Buffalo community that work in cooperation with Love INC-Big Woods. This ministry provides clothing to local children up through high school. Cleo volunteers once a month sorting the donations by size and gender for a couple of hours, and then once a quarter for a half day distribution.

It shows people Zion’s love for them through Christ’s love. It reaches so many people and there is a real need in the community. On days we sort, you get to visit with people you never really knew before and it’s fun. Distribution days are wonderful as parents with children of all ages come to pick out clothing. You see a lot of smiles.

Between the first two quarterly distributions, the Blessing Closet has already distributed over 10,000 items of clothing, shoes, and coats to approximately 1,000 local children.

We are very thankful for all those people contributing clothing and time.

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