I have read everything in the knowledge base and cannot figure out how to do a countdown timer. Does it have to go on a video? Can it go on an image? Is it an "insert" option. I thought I was doing one in the imrov panel but then I didnt know how to use it.

Media Files>Videos>Timers> should be  15-20 pre-made timers which you can select and/or alter.

Left-most icon is "Create or Acquire from ..." brings up a template for creating timers. I made one for a countdown to the next 1/2 hour.

It is just an ordinary video. It can be placed anywhere and sized, moved, rotated, etc., just like any other video. If I could add a 

PDF, I would show you the template for my countdown - but it isn't special anyway.

We use the instant message feature with the countdown to next half our in the message. I have configured the announcement loop to have a bottom margin of 10% and have the instant message set to show in the margin. Our service starts at 10;30, so I have one message that reads "Worship service starts at 10:30", if start the announcement loop before 10:00. Then at 10:00, I switch to Worship service starts in [countdown to "next half hour" format "m:ss"}