>> good morning, america. merry christmas. as you celebrate with your families, the meaning behind the season. cardinal timothy nolan and others here with their christmas messages. nba star teaming up with a teenager to give his grandmother an incredible surprise. and the children bravely facing health battles granted the ultimate christmas wish, a trip to the north pole. your holiday gift guide. how to take advantage of the season's hottest toys and what to do if you're concerned about screen time.ecoo t eth limbs on the xbox, nintendo and more. movie magic from "mary

poppins" to "aquaman" and the oscar contenders hitting the box office. the biggest holiday hits for you and your family this morning. ♪ what a beautiful sight ♪ holding me tight good morning, america. good morning, america. merry christmas to everyone celebrating at home, our audience here. [ applause ] we're going to make a little confession. we are on tape so we could spend the holiday with our families as well. >> our crew could spend time with their families and we've got a very special show this morning. nyu's vocal performance chorale are here singing our favorite christmas songs all morning long. ♪ we also have touching stories and even that journey to the north pole for some very special children. >> absolutely. we'll get to all of that in just a moment but first, though,

let's go to abc's adrienne bankert for the morning's top headlines. merry christmas, adrienne. >> good morning to you, too, robin. merry christmas, everyone. we begin with the celebrations happening all overed world. in rome, pope francis urged all christians to choose simplicity over greed and gluttony and reject materialism in a world where so many can barely survive. worshippers attended mass at the church of the nativity. back here at home president trump and first lady melania are spending the holidays in washington where they attendeov cathedral there in the nation's capital. the president says he's partial government for a deale shutdown and took to twitter reinforcing demands to fund a borderlonal w ut b l be back to resume negotiations until thursday. when asked about it at an event last night the president offered no new detail. >> nothing new. nothing new on the shutdown.

except we need border security. >> despite the thousands of workers facing no pay this lea glimmer of hope. look at this. it was anticipated that the national christmas tree in washington wld go dark. but the tree was lit yesterday with the help of private donors. wall street is closed for christmas. markets overseas have fallen again today following the worst christmas eve loss ever, more than 600 points. president trump again attacked the federal reserve on twitter while his administration tries to calm the market jitters. the delke toll from the tsunami and ian pannell has >> reporter: this is one of the areas that was devastated by that tsunami on december 23rd. you can see the truck and generator hurled into the building but look at this. this was a bus that was used to fey some of the guests on to

what is a hotel ground but where that concert was taking place when the tsunami swept straight onto stage. ♪ >> reporter: a local popormiron the lead erngsiif's now fears another tsunami could happent a a the military, red cross and volunteers rush to find the missing and treat the olcano krakatoa which eruptedfn time in two days created an underwater landslide. scientists are sure this csed the tsunami. hospitals are overrun with victims as the rescue and recovery continues. we're constantly hearing this deep base rumble of that volcano and there are fears that there could be another landslide and another tsunami at any point. and with those warning systems

not working everyone who lives in these areas are still in danger. adrienne. >> all right, our thanks to you, ian. actor kevin spacey is now facing a criminal charge in massachusetts stemming from an alleged assault against a teenage boy. spacey posted this bizarre monologue with cryptic messaging in his "house of cards" character. his first tweet in more than a year. he faces over half a dozen other accusations. in what may be their last game in oakland before moving to nevada, the raiders' duane harris gave their emotional fans at the famed black hole quite a show returning a punt for an impressive 99 yards. oakland beats denver, 27-14 at the coliseum. let's get a look at your christmas day weather right now with your local forecast.

and we are so happy that you decided to join us on your christmas holiday. if you've already opened your presents we hope you got what you wanted and so glad you're around family and friends around that kitchen table or around the living room. back to the studio for our special times square christmas celebration. george, over to you. >> thank you, adrienne. as we know christmas is a time for being with family and friends but for reflection. here to share their redirections bishop curry,newmark and timothy cardinal dolan, archbishop of new york. what are you preaching this christmas? >> you gave me a good entree in

your remarks when you spoke about a time for family and friends and the fact of the matter is with christmas, it's very -- it's dramatically evident we're all part of a larger family, god's family. we need that charge. i think my colleagues will cayll ges that we have today is a sense of isolation and loneliness, people feel by themselves and alienated and left out. not on christmas. we're all part of god's family. >> making that place. >> yes, because there are many people in our city being priced out of the inn. many of those come to the church i serve and try to provide a welcome space. we like to call our church basement, the manger and as we remember our blessings and gifts try to share that love and joy with those suffering. >> well, you know, in john 3:16 it says god so loved the world

he gave his only son. christmas at its deep root is about a love so compelling that it will set allf o u live life, that god so loved the world that he gave. he didn't take. he gave. and christmas is about giving and it's about giving unselfishless and if we do that thnoroughout the year we're goi to have a different society and different world. >> and this past year to be par public ceremonies that had at the at differentrtea h ways the idea of service as well. >> president bush's funeral. at that funeral one of the refrains was that this was a man regardless of your political position, this was somebody who took selfless sacrificial service seriously. that is a biblical definition of god gave of himself selflessly and we sue some of that in

president bush and that's the nature of the love that christmas is about. there is a christmas hymn i don't think we americans know as well, it's better known in britain, based on a poem by christina rossetti that says love came down at christmas. that's what christmas -- >> love came down and jesus the ultimate servant. yowantogot it, george.llsaid my homily. >> i couldn't handle that. also i was looking at your personal story and talked about welcoming everyone and your father a refugee from germany. there's a global crisis of refugees right now. >> yes. yeah, there is a global crisis of refugees. my own father was a refugee from nazi germany from hate and violence there and where my grandfather was murdered, so i wouldn't be here if he was not welcomed when he came here as a refugee.as d an eewe story where jesus and his family had to flee the hate of harod

and escape to egypt. when we see refugees at our border we see jesus and his family there among them because he said when you welcome -- when you welcome a stranger you whatw year. >> the hope for the new year we would realize that god is with us, emanuel, that beautiful -- which we borrow from our jewish brothers and sisters, that act of faith that god is with us. god know what is we're going through. that's the in-car nation, that's christmas. if everybody realizes this, i think we're better off. >> important to remember that on this day. thank you all very much. merry christmas. >> thank you. >> blessed christmas. >> robin. e.arnoank you christmas wish come true for very deserving children. united airlines taking a group of kids battling illnesses on the ultimate fantasy flight to the north pole to meet santa claus. david kerley has more. i know, right, on the magical ride. >> reporter: magical indeed. we are here at an airport terminal where kids will take

off and actually take a flight, a fantasy flight to what'scurtah pole. >> the north pole. >> reporter: for 125 kids -- >> welcome aboard snowflake service to the north pole. >> reporter: it was a fantasy flight. >> welcome on board. thanks for coming with us. >> reporter: all these children batt ng ilittle holiday cheer. >> this is amazing for her. things like this give herheng t >> reporter: decked out to deck the halls. >> we're all volunteers. >> give back, provide support and show them a wonderful time. >> reporter: with a bit of magical supersonic speed. >> put your hands in the air. >> reporter: it arrives at the gates of the north pole. with a gauntlet of cheers, a cavalcade of characters, soaking it all in, 12-year-old alex

eisenstat. >> i was overwhelmed by how much stuff there was just like right off the bat. it was pretty crazy. >> reporter: and then -- ♪ the man they came to see. the man in the red suit. >> merry christmas. >> merry christmas. >> reporter: alex is in remission. he got his time with old st. nick thinking about his younger brother. >> i want legos and my brother to be able to talk since he can't. because he has down syndrome and autism. >> thank goodness he's got you. thank goodness he's got you to be his brother. >> reporter: wi fille wh holiday joy. this one of dozens of flights around the country and every major airline is doing it with a lot of volunteers to make it a special holiday for the kids. i think they succeeded. merry christmas, guys. >> thank you, david. no one kicks the season into

high gear like the rockettes and, ginger, you got a chance to go behind the scenes for their big show. the first time they've had four sets of sisters take the stage. >> four sets of sisters and two of those sisters are identical twins but get this, i learned that even if i had my sister with me, i wouldn't make the cut. ♪ for more than 80 years it's been a holiday tradition. i'm so excited. radio city music hall [ chanting "welcome to radio city"] >> reporter: starring the rockettes. for the first time there are four sets of sisters performing in the new york show from returning dancers to identical twins in their first season. >> we first wanted to when we were 8 and ever since then we were infatuated. the fact we reached it together is very special.

>> my 14th christmas. >> 14th christmas. >> it's become our holiday tradition really. >> it's so special to be on stage and not only sharing it with your season but this experience with the audience because it is a family tradition for so many family. >> if you haven't been to the theater it holes 6,000 people. 0 rockettes and 36 of you on stage at the same time? >> yes. >> more than 1100 costumes are worn with each rockette changing eight times. >> i have this one. it looks like we're wrapped up like a christmas present. i love the holiday spirit that the costume brings. >> you got a little bow on the back. >> and sassy tutu. >> hatwise? >> a classic, our parade of the wooden soldiers hat. ♪ >> feather, check. >> salute. very good. >> it doesn't matter where

you're from. this show is iconic. >> we have rockettes coming from all across the nation, austins, women from england. it's amazing such a powerful coany n hav suc outreach. >> you can see still see through january 1st, always such a great time with scthenes. >> you love getting out there, don't you? >> yes. [ applause ] >> we'll move on to an nba player scoring big off the court pulling off a huge holiday surprise for a deserving grandmother talking about the chicago bulls zach levine teaming up with a teenager who wanted to thank his grandmother in a very special way. this is really a sweet story. >> i'm so happy to bring this to you and to you. 17-year-old marquis johnson wanted to do something to say thanks to the woman sacrificing so much to raise him and his cousins. she is a huge bulls fan so

teamed up with zach for a home makeover that was a slam dunk. this morning the high-flying chicago bulls point guard zach levine teaming up with the chicago after-school program called after school matters to give one teen a home makeover and shopping spree for the holidays. a list of nominated students were taken to levine and the bulls but one stood out. marquis johnson. >> i talked to his coach and his family members and the type of person he is and the thing he do around the community. he has a little bit of a burden on his shoulder. he's looking to give back. so i can do the same for repor his grandmother and she raised three of his cousinsing care ofe children so he decided to dedicate the shopping spree and home makeover to his grandmother. >> do you think she'll have a good reaction to it.

>> she'll probably cry. >> oh, for real. >> i think so. >> reporter: a day of shopping for clothes. >> might as well get the whole outfit. >> and furniture, 15 hours of cleanup put together with a little wrapping paper and the home was ready to go. >> what's up? >> oh my god. >> yep. >> you're all good. >> oh, my god. >> i'm just so -- i never expected anything. for this to happen for me come to something like this, it was so overwhelmed. oh wonderful. >> it has been hard for like a couple of years housewise. we needed certain things but never had the money so just use a little help. >> reporter: a decorated house,

present, a christmas tree and lots of love and thanks from the chicago family. >> thank you. can i get a hug? >> of course. oh, yeah, this is all for you. >> and thi t hiss ehehi teamed with after school matters to give chicago teens christmas makeov makeovers. after the big reveal he told us when he graduates he hopes to do the same and pay it forward himself. >> that's what it's about. >> that's right. we're going to pay it forward. you can see the nba in action all day. 12 hours of games on espn. abc starting 12:00 p.m. eastern and then prime time lineup, between lebron's lakers and the golden state warriors. >> thaa s t'game. >> that's a great gift. all right. lara. coming up this christmas morning your complete guide to holiday gift, how to make sure your kids enjoy them without spending too much time with their new tech -- >> good luck. >> what you have to do if you got something you weren't quite hoping for. >> that never happens.

christmas is a great time to watch new movies with your this week from "aquaman" to "mary poppins" and which movies are already getting a award season buzz. >> plus your favorite christmas songs all morning long right ♪ingle bells i'm staff sergeant martinez. i'm from nashville, tennessee and want to wish our families a happy holidays. >> johnson family wishing our friends and family in detroit and traverse city, michigan, happy holidays. [ chanting "merry christmas" ] ♪

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the apartment building where the fire was. when things like this happen, i think you find a new perspective on life. hi. red cross put us in a hotel so we were able to stay together. we're strong and, if we overcame that or if we can overcome that, we can overcome anything, so. [ sniffle ] and i take my job seriously. while i'm busy watching the game, i need your help keeping an eye on the stands. if you see something that doesn't look quite right, tell a law enforcement official. we all play an important role in protecting our communities,

if you see something suspicious, say something to local authorities. [ crowd cheering ] ♪i am beautiful in every single way♪

♪words, can't bring me down♪

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♪ and since we have no place to go let it snow ltno let it ♪ >> we welcome you back to "good morning america." [ applause ] >> merry christmas morning. getting us into the holiday spirit here in times square. >> we want to wish you a very merry christmas at home. we're on tape this morning so we could spend the day with our families but hope you are having a great one. >> we sure do. as we start to unwrap your gifts this morning a lot of parents are wondering how to make sure their children enjoy their tech toys withoutpending too much time on them. becky worley has the secrets to monitoring screen time. cryerchristmas. you guys will remember, earlier