Standing Committees The following are the parish standing committees.  They are made up of parish volunteers. See the Ministry Descriptions for more details on many of the activities of these committees. Christian Service Committee The Christian Service Committee concerns itself with social justice and charity. The majority of the work is outreach beyond the parish community. The Committee concentrates its efforts on transferring the generous donations of food, clothing, and financial support to those who are most needy. The parish commits 10% of the weekly collection to those who are least fortunate. A portion is allocated to Saint Matthew Parish in Dorchester, and a portion is distributed to other causes. The Christian Service Committee also coordinates the preparation and serving of a meal at the Salvation Army in Framingham once a month. The Committee assists bereaved families at funeral receptions, gathers gifts at Christmas for needy children, collects disposable diapers for Saint Mary's Mother and Infants Center, does Parish Outreach to seniors and others who welcome a visit, is involved in the Wayland Interfaith Housing Network, and coordinates the Lenten Rice Bowls for Catholic Relief Services. Food donations are made to A Place To Turn, Natick, and to Parmenter Food Pantry, Wayland, on the second Sunday of the month; and to Saint Matthew Parish, Dorchester, on the fourth Sunday of the month.   Environment & Art Committee The Flower Committee is a group of volunteers who arrange flowers for the weekend Masses and the liturgical season. In the rotation schedule, new members are usually paired with experienced people. They order, pick up, and arrange flowers by noon on Saturday. Training and workshops are provided.   Family Religious Education Committee The Family Religious Education Committee has as its mission to provide religious education for families from Baptism through grade 5 in a faith community that nurtures spiritual growth and calls members t care for each other and those in need. The Committee works toward becoming knowledgeable about family religious education through study and workshops. The Committee advises, supports, plans, and evaluates the family religious education in the parish. Finance Council Saint Zepherin Finance Council consists principally of members who have professional financial experience. The Council meets quarterly to review the parish's financial performance and to provide consultative assistance to the pastor on major expenditures. The Council prepares the budget for the coming year and reports to the parish annually. Major capital expenditures, staffing needs, renovation and building programs, and the consolidation of the Committee fiscal needs are all taken into consideration and assessed when funding requests are incorporated into the budget. The Council strives to keep the parish fiscally sound and capable of providing the quality programs, facilities, and staff that the Saint Zepherin community has come to expect. Parish Life Committee The goal of the Activities Committee is to build the parish community through social activities. The Committee's ongoing events include Sunday coffee; monthly dinners; Lenten soup suppers; parent-child breakfasts; newcomers welcome; Epiphany, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost celebrations; an annual picnic; a trip to a Boston Pops concert; and the annual Harvest Fall Fair. Parish Pastoral Council The PPC comprises 10-15 parish members including the pastor, and members of the parish staff. Parishioners are chosen for a three-year term. They represent all parishioners and assist the pastor with planning and organizing. To promote communication and cooperation within the parish, the Council sponsors parish-wide meetings of parish leaders to outline and explain what each of the various groups is doing to help the parish community. If you have any questions or concerns about the parish, feel free speak with a PPC member. Property Committee The Property Committee provides advice regarding the maintenance and upkeep of parish property (including the parish cemetery), monitors maintenance programs for parish mechanical units, coordinates an annual clean up program, and works closely with the Finance Committee to help anticipate future costs. The Committee is made up of individuals familiar with construction and maintenance of property, and it encourages parishioners with similar expertise to become members. Saint Zepherin Response Saint Zepherin Response is a group of concerned parishioners working together to ensure the involvement of laity at every level of parish life, in response to the current crisis in the Church. While we are not a Voice of the Faithful chapter, we do maintain close ties with them. See the Saint Zepherin Response web page for more details. Stewardship Committee The Stewardship Committee encourages parishioners to realize their full spiritual potential. The Committee encourages a more active participation of all parishioners in both parish and community activities. They reach out to inactive Catholics and invite them back to the parish and the Church. They help parishioners accept the challenge of living as Christian stewards and help them recognize that all they have comes from God.   Worship Committee The Worship Committee meets monthly to explore ways to involve parishioners in liturgy, to study aspects of liturgical celebration, to increase understanding of how to make liturgy meaningful, and to critique and improve all liturgical celebrations. Subcommittees plan specific seasonal celebrations with a special emphasis on the Triduum. The Committee strives to enliven parish worship and encourage greater participation by various means, including offering communion under both species, singing "The Our Father," involving families as greeters and procession leaders, instituting the "Homily Book" to give feedback to presiders, and conducting workshops for lectors and cantors. The Committee helps coordinate the efforts of numerous groups such as the Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, choirs, church decoration/flower arrangers, greeters, ushers, and procession leaders. They encourage a variety of prayer experiences in addition to Mass, including Lenten Evening of Prayer, Advent Retreat, and Parish Missions. They work with the Community United Methodist Church to plan special combined services on Palm Sunday and Pentecost.  Youth Ministry Committee The members of the Youth Ministry Committee strive to become more knowledgeable about Comprehensive Youth Ministry as described in Renewing the Vision. Committee members advise, support, plan, and evaluate youth ministry religious formation for grades 6-12 (middle school and high school). The members are active volunteers/adult leaders in various youth groups, retreats, service projects, and social activities. They encourage the youth of the parish to participate fully in parish life through service and active involvement in Mass, particularly the weekly 6:00 PM Youth Mass. (See Youth Ministry Committee.) Adult Faith Formation Committee The mission of the Adult Faith Formation Committee is to minister to the parishioners of St. Zepherin Parish in matters of personal and communal faith development.