William Meninger — a Trappist monk, author and retreat master from St. Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colo. — will lead local contemplative prayer workshops Sept. 9-14 in Jackson Township, Medina, Highland Heights and Akron.Meninger will present sessions on Christian Transformation from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 and 14 at Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, 2095 W. Market St., Akron. The workshops are designed to help participants make changes in their lives through spiritual guidance. A freewill offering will be taken. For more information, visit http://www.fairlawnwest.org or 330-864-2179.The Highland Heights session, which focuses on praying the Psalms, will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at St. Paschal Baylon Parish, 5384 Wilson Mills Road. For more information, visit http://www.stpaschals.com or 440-442-3410.Meninger will teach participants how to forgive using the practices of contemplative prayer from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 11, at Holy Martyrs Church, 3100 South Weymouth Road in Medina. For more information, go to http://www.holymartyrs.net or 330-722-6633. His local visit will begin with a two-day stop on Sept. 9 and 10 at the Kent State University Stark Campus Main Hall Auditorium, 6000 Frank Ave. NW, in Jackson Township. He will present a free introductory session from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9. Meninger will teach the method of contemplative prayer from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10. Tickets for the workshop are $25 and can be purchased at http://www.thelovingsearchforgod.eventbrite.com or http://www.wherelovelives.org. Contemplative, or centering, prayer is a method of silent prayer in which people experience God’s presence within them. More information about the local community of people committed to contemplative prayer (Contemplative Outreach Northeast Ohio) can be found at http://coneo.org. In other religion news: EventsAntioch Baptist Church — 670 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Aug. 27. Flea market. Clothing, furniture, toys, tools, sporting goods, household goods, shoes, electronics, lawn/garden accessories and more for sale. Free admittance and parking. 330-762-3469.Apostolic Church of Barberton — 1717 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Coventry Township. 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Service in Spanish, Iglesia Apostolica, with the Rev. Harold Fuentes. All welcome. 330-745-5550.Arlington Church of God — 539 S. Arlington St., Akron. 9 a.m. today. Women in White Prayer Breakfast, Connecting Through Hospitality. Speaker will be the Rev. Dovie Baumgardner of Mount Pleasant Church of God in Cleveland. $10. 330-773-3321.Christ Is the Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. Leadership session. Special guest will be Bishop Morris Terry of Bethesda Church in Cleveland. 330-376-1869.Copley United Methodist Church — 1518 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Bath Township. 1-6 p.m. Monday. A blood drive will be held. Photo ID required; age 17 and older eligible. Donors receive a coupon for a box of chocolate-dipped fruit from Edible Arrangements or a free gallon of windshield wiper fluid. 330-666-8354.Galilee Church — 70 W. Huston St., Barberton. 10 a.m. Sunday. Following morning service, there will be a “Get to Know You” fellowship.Greater Bethel Baptist Church — 404 S. Arlington St., Akron. 6 p.m. Sept. 2. Akron Gospel Idol: Youth Edition will be held. For ages 5-21. Showcase your talent, whether it’s singing, rapping or dancing. Cash prizes for top three. $10 registration fee due 5 p.m. Friday. Call 330-459-4090, or email terry@gmail.com or Ipray4u922@yahoo.com.Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church — 1225 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Men’s and Women’s Day. Men’s Day will be celebrated at morning worship service with the Rev. Richard L. Bush, pastor of Greater Joy Missionary Baptist Church of Marietta, Ga., as guest speaker. Women’s Day will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. service with the Rev. Shiloh Hooks, pastor of New Trinity Missionary Baptist Church of Akron as speaker. 330-864-6635.Rodman Public Library — 215 East Broadway St., Alliance. 1 p.m. Aug. 27. Downtown Church/Organ Walk. The program will begin at the library with a brief overview of the area and its churches. The group will then walk to each church where the organist will talk about the church’s history and its organ. The churches and organists are: First Immanuel United Church of Christ (Deb Daskalov), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Bruce Snyder), First United Presbyterian Church (Nancy Howenstine) and Christ United Methodist Church (Carolyn Wallace). For more information, call the library at 330-821-2665, ext. 101.St. Mark’s Lutheran Church — 158 North Ave., Tallmadge. 3 p.m. Sunday. Sons of Norway meeting. Program will be a heritage story by a lodge member. Open to anyone interested in Norway’s culture. 330-289-5262.Second Baptist Church — 451 Bronson St., Medina. 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Woman’s Day will be held. Speaker for the morning service will be Carolyn Watts, an attorney and member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Cleveland. Lunch will be served. The afternoon speaker will be Denise Warren of Third Baptist Church in Youngstown. 330-722-0073.Seville United Methodist Church — 74 W. Main St., Seville. 10 a.m. Sunday. Blessing of the Backpacks during worship service. All students, from preschool to college, are encouraged to bring their backpacks to have them blessed at the start of a new school year. Teachers and school staff members are invited to bring lunch boxes or bags they take home filled with papers to grade. New school supplies will be accepted and donated to Cloverleaf Local Schools for families in need. Refreshments provided. 330-769-2826.Victory Life Church — 3833 Hudson Drive, Stow. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Single Parents Fair. An event to help single parents get their children ready for school. Free hot dog lunch, school supplies, haircuts for boys, face painting and balloon animals. Free massage for moms and dads.On Aug. 27, the Believe Race, 5K and one-mile fun run/walk in partnership with Relay for Life will be held. Registration at 7 a.m. at the church. $20 entry fee for 5K race, $17 for run/walk. Awards will be presented. 330-929-6555.PerformancesFirst Church of God — 9016 N. Main St., Windham. 6 p.m. Sunday. Southern Gospel and Bluegrass Gospel Music Concert with Kelly Perry from Ashville. All are welcome. Freewill offering. 330-326-2293.New Beginning Fellowship Church — 4567 State Route 43, Brimfield Township. 6 tonight. Nora Hunt’s Southern Gospel Singing will host Singing in the Park at the Brimfield Gazebo. Performers will include the Elsons, a bluegrass group from Proctor, W.Va., and Ohio singers Colonial City from Mansfield, Kelly Perry from Ashville, James and Starla Dean from Shelby and Nora Hunt from Brimfield. Refreshments available. Freewill offering. 330-673-0700.Oak Hill Presbyterian Church — 2406 Ardwell Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Aug. 28. Second annual Music Extravaganza will feature the church’s chancel and handbell choirs, along with other ensembles and soloists. Theme is An Afternoon at the Movies. Freewill offering will support tornado relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. Refreshments will be served in Fellowship Hall after program. 330-784-2432.Speakers, classes, workshopsFirst United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. Registration deadline is Aug. 28 for Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning Women’s Bible Studies. The study will be The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and will last 11 weeks 7-9 p.m. Tuesday starting Sept. 13 and 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays starting Sept. 14. Cost of workbook is $16. Call 330-923-5241, ext. 210 to register.St. Hilary Parish — 2750 W. Market St., Fairlawn. 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Dr. Scott Hahn, an author, lecturer and theologian, will speak on the relationship between the Bible and the Catholic liturgy. Tickets go on sale today and are $5 each. They can be purchased at the parish office and at all Masses the next two weekends. For more information, call Marita Gore at 330-204-4308.Vacation Bible SchoolsChrist Is The Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Vacation Bible School each evening. There will be a youth carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 27. 330-376-1869.The deadline for Religion Notes is noon Tuesday. Items must be in writing. Please fax information to 330-996-3033, email it to religion@thebeaconjournal.com or send it to Religion, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron OH 44309