4+ day, 17+ hour ago (591+ words) GRAND FORKS " After two nights of "mystifying" Grand Forks performances in 1896, worldwide phenomenon Anna Eva Fay drew the attention of a local businessman who, following her tour to Fargo, claimed to debunk the stage mentalist's performance there. Fay, who spent 50 years performing throughout the U.S. and across the globe, was lauded in newspapers as a medium, spiritualist, mind reader and more. Carsen Grave, a UND graduate student, researched Fay for a UND history class he took while pursuing his undergraduate history degree. "I'm really interested in mystical, spiritual things," Grave said, so he explored newspaper archives by searching for phrases like "astral body." "It was like, wow, this woman's claiming to do all of these amazing things, and she's selling out these opera houses," he recalled. "What is going on here?" "There were a lot of fun, punchy acts that she…...

2+ week, 9+ hour ago (661+ words) FARGO " When Calvary Fargo opened registration for its first community Thanksgiving meal, spots filled up far faster than anticipated. Originally, the church planned to serve 250 free to-go meals on the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the Rev. Rey Col'n. But after surpassing that the same day registration started, the church upped the number to 300. "There's a big need for a Thanksgiving meal," Col'n said. While spots are full for Calvary Fargo's to-go meal, other area churches are ramping up efforts to feed people in the community as local food pantries experience heightened demand. Some are collecting food and financial donations for area food pantries, while others plan to serve meals of their own. At Calvary, church volunteers will cook more than 200 pounds of potatoes and 200 pounds of turkey for the hot meal boxes, which will also have gravy, corn, cranberries, pie…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (155+ words) FARGO " The familiar ringing of red bells will soon be heard across the Fargo-Moorhead metro as the Salvation Army announced the start of its 2025 Red Kettle campaign Friday morning, Nov. 14. The campaign raises money to support families in need in the area. The organization has set a goal of $850,000 after raising more than $800,000 during the 2024 campaign. Fargo Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack was named this year's honorary kettle chair and said she is happy to help make a difference in people's lives. "I was on the board in Bismarck for the Salvation Army. So this is really, truly coming home today, and the work they do is incredible, especially during the holidays. The number of people that they serve, the meals that they serve, the connection to services in our community really make a difference," Kolpack said. The Salvation Army has…...

3+ week, 20+ hour ago (1620+ words) DAZEY, N.D. " It was one of the busiest and most celebrated weekends of the year for the devout members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. The parish east of Dazey in rural Barnes County has a tradition more than a century old of observing the Feast of Corpus Christi, which celebrates the Eucharist as being composed of the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. German immigrant families brought the tradition of celebrating the feast with them when they started homesteading the land in the rolling hills rising from the Sheyenne River in the 1880s. Many preparations go before the celebration, which includes an elaborate procession through the wooded churchyard. The priest, walking underneath a canopy held by altar servers, lifts up the monstrance, a vessel that holds the consecrated Host for the adoration of the faithful. Parishioners follow, with most…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago (392+ words) I think that one of the most challenging aspects of living a life of faith is the realization that everything in this earthly life we know is so " ethereal. Circumstances can change in the time that it takes for an eyelash to drop to the ground, and that is a very disconcerting thought for most of us. This precariousness is jarring and reminds us that truly we walk through this life trusting in things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1) I was reminded this week by a devotion I read that all we are certain of in this world is only temporary, and that our fortunes can literally change with the dawning of a new day. The rub, of course, is that those changes can either bring us great joy " or tremendous sorrow. I think it is exactly this uncertainty that vexes so many…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (166+ words) FARGO " A faith group traveling the country is in Fargo this week, hoping to incite positive spiritual change in the community. Grace Place Ministries, based in Sioux Falls, is hosting four worship opportunities this week at the Sanctuary Events Center in downtown Fargo. The event is under the name "Revival Fire," designed to simulate the enthusiasm that drives their ministry. Leaders say it's not designed to be a replacement for Sunday church, but to help people find hope through life's challenges. "We want to see people get set ablaze for the Lord and just be filled with joy, be filled with hope, in a time where people are hopeless, we as believers are called to have hope and we're called to release hope to the world around us," said Daniel Newton, pastor and founder of Grace Place Ministries. They will…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (175+ words) MOORHEAD " With uncertainty surrounding paused SNAP benefits, a local church is helping those in need with free lunches every Monday in November. Our Savior's Lutheran Church in north Moorhead, near Robert Asp Elementary, held its first lunch of the month. The church served 191 sandwiches, with most going home with families to eat throughout the week. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including sandwiches, pasta, soup, chips and drinks. The meals are free and open to anyone. The director of children and youth ministries said the goal is to ensure no one in the community goes hungry. "Our community does so much for us, and we live in a very caring community. We have a lot of people who need help in our community, and it's good to be the hands of God and serve others," said Abbey Zuehlsdorff, director of…...