Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the life of President Nelson Mandela

The Historic Riverside Church And South African Consulate To Honor The Life And Legacy Of Nelson Mandela During Public Memorial Service

Wednesday, December 11

5:00 P.M. (Doors Open)

5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. (Service)

The Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive (Bet. 120th & 122nd Sts.)
Morningside Heights

The Riverside Church — in conjunction with the South African Consulate — will host Consul General George Monyemangene and other VIPs for a public memorial service in remembrance of the life and legacy of President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday, December 11 in the Nave of the historic Church from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:00 p.m.), 490 Riverside Drive (bet. 120th & 122nd Sts.), Morningside Heights.

The service, which is open to the public, will be led by Riverside Church Senior Minister Emeritus, The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr.  U.N. South Africa Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, Rev. Calvin Butts (Abyssinian Baptist Church) and other VIP guests are expected to attend the event.

The service is open to the public and seating will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  There will be no ticketed seating.

In 1990, on his first visit to the U.S. after being released from 27 years in prison, Mandela addressed the nation during an interfaith celebration at The Riverside Church and again spoke at the Church during his last U.S. visit in 2005.

The Riverside Church (www.theriversidechurchny.org) is an interracial, interdenominational and international church built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1927.  The 1,200-member Riverside Church in Morningside Heights has a rich tradition of providing a forum for important civic and spiritual leaders. Past speakers include: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President William J. Clinton, the Dalai Lama, Fidel Castro, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.