NATCHEZ &8212; Methodist women from throughout Mississippi gathered at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church in Natchez Friday and Saturday for the annual meeting of the state conference.

Sarah Sanders of Columbus, president of the Mississippi Conference of United Methodist Women, said the two-day event was an &8220;end-of-the-year celebration and a coming together of units from across the state for programming, inspiration and fellowship.&8221;

Special guests at the meeting were state Bishop Hope Ward, who was in the pulpit at the Friday evening worship service; and Nancy Bearden of Georgia, president of the core planning group for the southeastern jurisdiction of the denomination.

Jean Reed, chairman of the coordinating committee at Jefferson Street church, was among those who oversaw preparations for hosting the meeting in Natchez.

&8220;It took lots of phone calls and lots of prayers. It also took lots of cheery hellos and &8216;would you like to &8230;,&8217;&8221; Reed said.

&8220;But we involved all the women, about 60 of us. And we had the hand-bell choir and the organist to work with us, too,&8221; Reed said.

The visitors&8217; Friday afternoon included tours of other downtown historic churches, Reed said.

Meetings in the late afternoon preceded the opening worship. Afterwards, the Brookhaven District of the United Methodist Women hosted a reception.

Saturday&8217;s program began with music and the business session. Kay Barksdale of Jackson, state vice president in charge of programming, said she coordinated the meeting long distance &8220;and that&8217;s an experience.&8221;

Barksdale said churches throughout the state &8220;have their little problems. But then when we all come together like this &8212; this is very heartening when 350 come to a meeting like this.&8221;

Other Jefferson Street women who played key roles in hosting the event include Joan Heard and Linda Ogden, both vice chairmen of the coordinating committee; and Joyce Hall, the Jefferson Street UMW president.

Barbara Ann Mingee of Natchez worked with women from other districts, including Linda Phillips, Dorothy McGehee, Barbara Roberts and Jean Ricks, to host the Friday reception.