Licensing of Liz Mack as Priest-In-Charge of the Benefice of Beckingham, Walkeringham, Misterton, West Stockwith, Clayworth & Gringley-on-the-Hill
It was a full church in Beckingham on Monday evening as the Revd Liz Mack was licensed by Bishop Andy as Priest in Charge of the Benefice of Beckingham, Walkeringham, Misterton, West Stockwith, Clayworth and Gringley-on-the-Hill (known locally as Oswaldbeck). Liz will also serve alongside the Revd Louise Bearder and the Revd Becky Hancock and the wider team as a Mission Associate as part of our Rural pilot.
The reading from 1 Samuel 3 reminded those present to be expectant that God is speaking to us, and when we hear God we must choose whether we respond with obedience and trust. This was illustrated by Liz’s own story as she following God’s call to ordination while at St Peter’s Church, Ruddington and then in serving her curacy in The River Idle Benefice – further north and a more rural context than she was expecting. Having seen God’s faithfulness and fruitfulness we are delighted she is staying further north and in a more rural context. However, hearing God’s voice is not just about the clergy, in order to ensure continued sustainable ministry across the diocese in cities, towns and villages, we all need to be listening and obedient to God’s call on our lives.
Liz grew up in Edwalton and West Bridgford, suburbs of Nottingham, and would not have claimed any interest in faith until the age of 40, other than being a Jehovah’s Witness as a very young child until the age of about 5 or 6. She joined the family business at the age of 20, and worked in this until she left the business after the pandemic in September 2021 to begin theological training at St Melitus College in Nottingham. Liz would have called herself a sceptic, especially regarding faith, and after a challenging time in her marriage, which sadly ended in divorce, she finally agreed to go to an Alpha course at her mum’s church in Ruddington, Nottingham, in 2013/14. Liz has a passion for ‘making God possible’ to people of all ages and backgrounds, but especially those who have been outside of the church and faith for most of their lives, helping them to see that nothing in their experiences of life is wasted; God can use everything for his glory and our good! You can use this link to hear more of Liz’s story.
We delighted for Liz and for the communities she will serve, as they begin this new phase of ministry together. Please join us in praying for Liz as she settles in to the role and for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit that will bring an overflow of God’s blessing to these churches and communities.
