Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!

DC Comics gave us this unforgettable line as observers tried to make sense of what was swirling above them. First appearing in comic books of the 1940s, the phrase leapt to radio and then television, becoming a cultural catchphrase as Jimmy Olsen explained the identity of the Man of Steel, memorably portrayed by George Reeves in the 1950s Superman television series.

The 1950s were a time when emerging media, print, radio, and television introduced many characters that would remain staples in our culture’s entertainment and marketing worlds. Many of them invited curiosity about identity. Alongside the hero, faster than a speeding bullet, stood another icon: Mr. Clean. His bald head, muscular build, and especially his lone earring sparked early debates. Was he a sailor? A genie?

The best guess is that Mr. Clean was a sailor. In 1957, Linwood Burton, a marine ship-cleaning entrepreneur, developed a non-toxic detergent for use on ships along the East Coast. A year later, he sold the formula to Procter & Gamble, which introduced the Mr. Clean mascot. Ever since, he’s been battling dirt, grime, and grease with legendary efficiency.

This Sunday, January 11, at 9:30 AM, we will reflect on the identity of another cleanser – one who is not from another planet, yet truly out of this world. At the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, we hear God’s voice from heaven identify Jesus as the Beloved Son. We witness his baptism, the moment his public ministry begins, a ministry that culminates in the cleansing of all our sins through his ultimate sacrifice.

We invite you to join us for worship. The day’s bulletin is attached.

Witness the true Superhero. Be cleansed.

Blessings,

Pastor Marc