Stoeckle Invites Public to Fun Feb. 4 Event

NORTH BRANFORD - Each year, Karen Stoeckle organizes an International Dinner to help send teens on missions that make a difference.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, Karen invites the community to enjoy the third annual North Branford Congregational Church (NBCC) International Dinner. The delicious, family-oriented event features dinner and desserts from Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa. One hundred percent of ticket sales benefit this year's NBCC Youth Mission trip.

In July, four NBCC teens will travel with pastor Deb Roy and local architect Scott Small to a Montana Crow Indian reservation and "we're trying to finance their entire trip," says Karen.

The NBCC mission will be guided in Montana by national non-profit Youth Works; spending a week working to improve lives. Last year, NBCC teens assisted Youth Works on a Navaho Indian reservation.

"Through Youth Works, they meet kids from all different churches, all around the country," says Karen.

When they return, the teens share their experiences by giving talks at NBCC.

"The kids are so moved by it," says Karen, while her husband, Craig, adds, "Some kids come back with a deeper spiritual meaning to their lives."

The Stoeckles' daughters Melanie and Grace have participated in the past two NBCC mission trips with Pastor Roy. The first mission teamed NBCC kids with Branford First Congregational Church youth mission members, rebuilding Hurricane Katrina-stricken homes in New Orleans, Louisiana.

That first year, "We needed to raise money to send them and someone had the idea of doing an International Dinner," says Karen, who loves to cook and volunteered to organize the dinner.

During the Stoeckles' nearly 17 years with NBCC, Karen's been one of its go-to folks for organizing church banquets and fashion shows. She says she can always count on plenty of help.

"It's a good church and good people," says Karen, soon to be an NBCC deacon. "They do whatever it takes. For the International Dinner, we have one person running each continent and a lot of people helping out. Everybody pitches in."

Karen, who's overseeing the dinner's Asian fare this year, also has a fair idea of some of the dishes arriving from four continents on Feb. 4.

"It always smells so wonderful in here on the dinner night. Some of the food we're going to have will be Malaysian chicken, coconut curry soup, Greek spanakopita, spoon bread with meatloaf, a Thai peanut sauce, Pakistan rice pilaf, and Russian black bread. There are four sections, and you go to whatever section you want."

"For $12, you get a heck of a meal," adds Craig, who also pitches in to help; tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children younger than eight.

"Once you come, you'll be hooked," says Karen, adding desserts are always a treat, too, because "our church is known for its bakers."

Karen's a great baker who heads up the popular Country Kitchen at the annual NBCC Holly Fair, notes her daughter Grace. The 16 year-old says she's excited about making her third NBCC mission trip in July and especially loves interacting with the children she meets.

"One of the reasons we wanted to help on another reservation was that it was so cool and interesting and amazing to see another culture, but it was sad to see how torn-down their buildings were. I kind of liked going to see those kids smile and building them a home. It's nice just to see them have some fun and feel safer," says Grace.

Melanie Stoeckle's NBCC youth mission experiences helped her decide to do more mission work as an adult.

"Melanie wants to go to Africa on her own," says Karen of her oldest daughter, now in college. "These missions aren't just community service. There's a spiritual end to them, too. The kids get empowered."

The third annual International Dinner is Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at the North Branford Congregational Church, 1680 Foxon Road, North Branford. To purchase tickets in advance (recommended), call 203-605-2661. Tickets are $12 adults, $5 for children under 8. All sales benefit NBCC 2012 Youth Mission trip.