The Brightest Lights in Berwick
By
Kitch Loftus-Mussari & Tony Mussari
It is the music that makes me whole.
It is the music that sets my soul free.
It is the music that lifts my spirit.
It is the music that lets me be me.
These words capture the spirit of a wonderful group of people who call themselves Brighter Light. Twenty years ago these singers and 
musicians performed for the first time at the Grace Lutheran Church and they’ve been at it ever since.
Saturday evening, June 2, 2007, Brighter Light celebrated its 20th anniversary with a concert in Berwick that can only be 
described as heavenly. They presented 20 songs to an appreciative audience that filled the pews at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Fowler Street in Berwick.
It was a hot and humid night by any measure, certainly not one we’re accustomed to in early June. The air was still and sweltering outside the impressive church complex on Fowler Street, but once inside the beautiful harmony of the men and women who were singing their hearts out made everyone forget about the weather and anything else that was bothering them.
For without music my life has no rhythm.
Without music, it has no rhyme.
Without music, it has no balance.
It’s just the passage of time.
Traditional favorites like “Shout to the Lord,” “Soon-Ah Will Be Done,” “How Will They Know,” and “I Lift up Mine Eyes,” enabled the members of Brighter Light to demonstrate their devotion and passion to the music that touches the soul.
These artists live to sing. You can see it in their eyes, smiles, body language and exuberance as they sing, sway and clap as the words and music dictate. It is not just a hobby to these 19 people; it is their joy and their life.
Helping to make this magical music are two pianists, a base player and a woman who is 90 and plays the cello.
The audience gets caught up in the positive energy that beams from the performers. The members of Brighter Light love to perform, and everyone who watches and listens knows
it and loves to be there.
The church was packed with people of all ages, toddlers, teenagers, seniors and everybody in between. It was truly an event for all generations.
On hand was a contingent of Red Hat ladies, famous for their 
determination to live in the moment. Dressed in their wildly creative red and purple chapeaux, they sat in a row and cheered mightily.
Several youngsters sometimes played in the lobby with moms, dads and grandparents. One enterprising parent brought coloring books and crayons so her children could create their own art while listening to the music.
I thank God for the gift of my music,
And the people who hold the key
To friendship, love, and inspiration,
And the doors it has opened for me.
The reputation of Brighter Light is known far and wide, and it brought many people from different areas of northeastern Pennsylvania to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. They knew they were in for a special evening of love and inspiration.
A quick pan of the faces in the audience left no doubt that this is the America that seldom, if ever, gets any media attention. These are the faces of the silent generation. The generation that goes to work every day, puts their family first, works 
hard, respects others and retires to the status of the invisible America. They are not listed in the Green Book…they do not have a My Space account… they pay their taxes, and they believe and live the values of the Greatest Generation. These are the people who make America work, and, in our opinion, they are the genuine celebrities of our time.
Intermission signaled the end of the first half of the concert but that didn’t mean the music was over. While the singers took a break, four young musicians played popular
tunes on the drums, piano, trumpet and guitar. They provided a pleasant interlude as the audience got up to stretch, comment on the performance and renew acquaintances.
It also gave church members a chance to make sure the 
Fellowship Hall was all set for the refreshments that would be served after the concert. They transformed the large room into a garden complete with newly cut spring flowers and fountains of chocolate.
The second half of the concert had a more biblical tone as stories were recounted about Nebuchadnezzar, the Pharaoh and Moses.
We learned about them in word and song.
It is the music that makes me whole.
It is the music that sets my soul free.
It is the music that lifts my spirit.
It is the music that lets me be me.
The words in this verses come from “The Music in My Life,” a song commissioned by the group to celebrate this special event. It was written by Mary Hoida, an original founding 
member of Brighter Light. The music was composed by Dr. William Cutter who directed the first performance of The Music in My Life. This song says everything about Brighter Light that needs to be said.
The concert closed with a Scripture lesson by Reverend John R. 
Koons who, in his inimitable style, brought Moses to life and gave everyone the feeling that they were there when he said “No” to God. This rousing song about the results brought the audience to its feet for a long and well deserved standing ovation.
It was the perfect place for Windsor Park Stories because it enabled us to record a snapshot of the America that is doing well and going along under the radar screen.
It was an event that brought out all kinds of people who are different in some ways, but for the most part, the same. They love God, church, family, friends, social events and especially uplifting and inspiring music.
People like the members of Brighter Light and their fans give us hope, inspiration and service to our community. These are the unsung heroes and heroines of our time. These are the people who make America great.
It is their music that makes us whole.
It is their music that sets our souls free.
It is their music that lifts our spirit.
It is their music that lets be free
(You can hear the music of Brighter Light in the Coming Attractions section of the Windsor Park Theater)
kitch152@aol.com, tmussari@aol.com
