I wanted post an update on what’s happening around eleven72. First, we’re hard at work getting our April round of free still backgrounds and free worship backgrounds ready to post and send out with our next newsletter. Look for that newsletter early next week. If you’re not in the know, we give away free stills, backgrounds and other stuff every month to our email subscribers. To sign up, go to our homepage and you’ll find the information in the lower right hand part of the page. If you sign up now, you can still get last months free stuff and then the new stuff when the newsletter goes out next week.

The National Day of Prayer is coming up May 3rd. If you’ve got plans to do a Prayer focused service the weekend before (April 28th-29th), we’ve got some resources that would work great for you.

Check out our Prayer Volume 1, a bundle of prayer related media pieces that include two Sermon Illustrations, a Countdown, five Still Backgrounds and two moving Worship Backgrounds. This has been a very popular volume for us, in particular, people have really responded well to the Prayer Illustration, which features thoughtful and inspirational quotes on Prayer, as well as original photography by esteemed photographer Joel Salcido. You can get a great deal by purchasing the entire volume, or you can order ala carte and get whatever you need.

Next up, in May, Mother’s Day falls on May 13th. We’re currently working on some new Mother’s Day resources which I’ll post about in the next few days. In the mean time, check out our wildly popular Sermon Illustration, For Mom: A Breakfast Story, which is a really honest, funny and heart warming look at some kids who are trying to make Mom’s day extra special. While you’re looking, don’t miss our even more popular Mother’s Day Countdown, which is based on an actual survey we took asking Moms the question, what’s the worst Mother’s Day gift you have either received or can think of (hint: getting her a scale is a really bad idea). The answers we got are hilarious. These two videos have been the most popular seasonal videos we’ve ever produced. Check them out.

Finally up in May is Memorial Day on May 28th. For those of you having Memorial Day services on May 27th, we’re working on a brand new Sermon Illustration just for you. It’s going to be a powerful piece that highlights the history of Memorial Day and ties that rich history into our remembering those who have fallen today. I’ll be sure to post about that video when it’s finished and available. Another great video we have that would work well on Memorial Day is Let Freedom Ring, a thoughtful collection of quotes and scripture that highlights the God centered values and principles our nation was founded on Let Freedom Ring is available as an Illustration and as a Countdown.

Happy Thanksgiving !

eleven72 would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. We know time with family can sometimes be crazy, but we hope your Turkey Day is filled with fun, relaxation and good food.

For all you procrastinators, we still have some great Thanksgiving videos available for download on our Seasonal tab. Depending on your message, Giving Thanks, Pray With Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving to the Lord might make great visual additions to your weekend services. And you can kick off those services with our Thanksgiving Trivia Countdown or our Thanksgiving to the Lord Countdown. We’ve also got a Thanksgiving Volume that includes a sermon illustration, a countdown and three themed still backgrounds all in a convenient downloadable bundle. You can check out all the above mentioned videos at http://www.eleven72.com/media/seasonal.html.

And don’t forget (click here to read all about it), our Seasonal tab will have all new Christmas videos on it this coming Tuesday, November 28th. We’ll have four Christmas themed Sermon Illustrations, A series of Advent videos, and some great Nativity themed Still Backgrounds available Tuesday, so come back and check those out next week.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

New Programming Packs!
(for those following the series on getting started using media in the church, the next post in that series will be out by early next week)

Our two newest Programming Packs are now up and available on the Volumes page. Check out Money and Church Volumes 1. If you don’t know what our Programming Packs are, I blogged about them recently here.

Money Vol. 1 features the hilarious Sermon Illustration, “How Much?” We were fortunate to have a couple of great actors and a talented crew to pull this off. And it really shows. Check out “How Much?” here.

This Programming Pack also features a great new countdown that contrasts the difference in the way Scripture and the World view money. We also have the first two of a series of Worship Backgrounds that we’re really excited about featured on this volume. And it’s rounded out by 5 original stills. We got some authentic, ancient Roman coins and were able to get some wonderful photographs of them that we think will provide a great backdrop for services on money, giving or tithing.

Church Vol. 1 is anchored by “The Body.” Peopled with great characters like EYE, EAR and FOOT, this fun illustration is a wonderful reminder that the Body of Christ is made up of a diverse group of people, each uniquely created by God, and each needing the others to function completely. The rest of the Programming Pack keeps the fun going. The Countdown mixes and matches different people, literally, to illustrate 1 Corinthians 12. And the Still Backgrounds feature very usable and well designed silhouettes of hands, feet and a body of people. The entire volume urges us to “Be The Body!”