The line from Ecclesiastes, “Cast your bread upon the waters” is true of “Sister Schubert.”

It also describes the work of Beckwith Camp and Conference Center in Fairhope. The camp and conference center, founded in 1933, on Week's Bay is run by the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and its facilities are open to all, regardless of faith.

“We started as a camp, with church events, but we have branched out,” said Eleanor Parker, the Director of Marketing and Development.

Beckwith (named for the Right Rev. Charles Beckwith, who had a camp on the land) is on Week's Bay, but as Parker says, “We're probably one of the best-kept secret in the area.”

No more. “Sister Schubert,” the well-known baker will be “Baking for Beckwith” Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 28788 North Main Street in Daphne. The $10 per person admission includes a lunch prepared by the ladies of St. Paul's and Schubert's latest cookbook, “Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters” will be autographed and sold for $40. According to Parker, $10 of the proceeds will go to Beckwith, and the remainder will go to the Barnes Family Foundation, which supports an orphanage, Sasha’s Home in Gorlovka, Ukraine, a scholarship for study abroad at Auburn University, the “Feed the Hungry” program and an historic preservation fund.

Schubert and her husband learned of Beckwith when they attended a Cursillo (Christian renewal) group at the center.

“It was wonderful,” said Schubert in a telephone interview. “I want others to enjoy Beckwith. It is a beautiful part of the world.”

When she was asked to help out with Beckwith fund raising, she did not hesitate.

“It (the center) helps out a lot of different groups,” Schubert said. “It is a beautiful atmosphere there. The light coming into the chapel is amazing to see. I am a lover of water and you can enjoy it form the pier or take one of the small boats. It really gives you a sense of peace there.”

Schubert added that other “Baking for Beckwith” events are planned. There is one scheduled in January in Destin, Fla. and other churches are being approached to hold a “Baking” event.

The event is going to be held in Daphne, Schubert says, because the priest there, the Rev. Thack Dyson knew her and invited her.

Schubert, a former Troy resident, now Patricia Barnes, had always had a love of baking. She says that she learned to bake, especially delicious rolls from her grandmother. The “Sister” nickname came from her own sister, who could not pronounce “Patricia” when she was younger. Schubert was her last name at that time. She ran a small catering business and worked in the family furniture store.

But it was not until her marriage ended, leaving her alone at 40 with two young children that Barnes turned to baking full-time. She made rolls from her grandmother’s recipe and took samples to stores in the Troy area, as far as she could go with out the frozen rolls defrosting.

She already knew the rolls were good – they were family-approved, and she would get orders for hundreds of rolls at church affairs.

The first rolls were baked on a sun porch. Then space was made for a commercial kitchen in a warehouse her father owned. She met and married food broker George Barnes while building her business.

The business was later sold to a national food concern, giving Patricia Barnes (Her name, “Sister” came when a sister could not pronounce Patricia and Schubert was her former name) time to do research and development for her line of baked goods and the time to do her charity work.

But, for this event, Beckwith is her main concern.

“I want everyone to enjoy the atmosphere of peace there,” Schubert said.