>> ellen: anyway... ♪ right now at 6:00, more than 3 1/2 daysnto the government shutdown, president trump says he cannot predict when the government w reope christmas in washington. for se it's a day of pilunteering. warmly giving, h those in need. but a colder christmas day outside. a lot of folks bundling up to enjoy the outdoors. >> translar: news 4 at 6:00 starts now. >> good ening, everyone. and merry christmas. i'm chris gordon. it was not a white ristmas, but a chilly one. we saw people this afternoon enjoying theay in georgetown, all bundled up against the cold in the washingnarbor ice skating rink. amelia draper joins us now in

the sto center. hi, amelia. >> good evening, chris, and merry christmas to you at home. we're all dry across the area t now. here's the latest check of storm team 4 radar. maybe a f sprinkles, maybe flurries in southern maryland throughout the day today. but for most of us it was a completely dry christmas. raour high temre, 44 degrees, which is exactly normal for this time of year. here's a look at the bigger picture. and you can see nothing on the radar. all quiet tonight, and as skies become cle across theregion, it is going to be cold. right now our temperatures for the most part are in the 30s. 37 degrees in washington. 36 in fredrik as well as leesburg. and most of us tonight are going to be falling into 20s for overnight lows. low 30s here in washington. tomorrow morng on your wednesday, it's a cold start. 33 degrees at 7:00 a.m. that's sunrise time. now at 7:25. bu with plenty of sunshine, we warm up nicely. high temperature tomorrow near 50. now, chris, i am tracking rain moving in toward the end of thw . i'm going to have more on the

timing anin impacts com up right around 6:15. >> okay, we'll see you then. now, to celebrate today, many people ad the christmas day mass. cardinal donald wue led the mass at the brazasilica of the conception. he talked of friendsonnd family hristmas and renewing a commitment to kindns and compassion. it was that compassiont t was shown to people who were alone for christmas, or in need. 400 volunteers serving christmas dinner in the basilica's dleing room whiundreds of meals were delivered to people in need across the district. and in montgomery and prince george's counties. while many were still asleep early this morning, volunteers across our area we as busy as santa's elves, cooking and

prepping to feed people in need at franklin square park inhw noest d.c., breakfast and kindness we served this christmas. >> what we have ine h is some socks. inside the socks, the other sock, there's a gift card for cvs. we figure people can have a place that they can go get something to maybe help them out. >> reporter: perhaps not a christmas stocking you're used to, but one david walton knows will help someone. one of the many lessons he and fellow volunteers from done kink baptist church have learned, reaching into their pockets to continue this ten year tradition. >> it's natural to get up christmas morning. we got up at mnight and cooked eggs and bacon. reporter: handouts of the hearty homemade meals. served alongside wide smiles and chmany a merry christmas w meant so much to those

receiving. >> it felt great, they're taking their time on christmas and helping the community to those that need it, you know.t it j feels good. >> lot of love out here, you know what i'm saying? santclaus, he's here today and we're thankful. >> reporter: lking across franklin square, a crowd of hundreds wrapped inco warm s. many carrying with them all that they have. men and women, who aren't with their families, but have found family here today. >> b i feelssed because this is my first christmas home. i've been in jail 15 years and i thank god i made it this >> we all know each other. we're all together. >> reporter: all togeth, all glad, and all grateful. >> that's really what christmas is about, giving back, and being able to share and being blessed. >> reporter: innorthwest, i'm justin finch, news 4. >> and volunteers at d.c.'s central union mission were helping bring holiday cheer to those in need this christmas. the mission, serving up food for the city's homeless. each year, hundreds of

volunteers help to prepare, serve and clean up to ensure everyone has a hot holiday meal. pope francis delivering a christmas message of unity at st. peter's square.ng speao a crowd of tens of thousands, the pontiff urged people of all faiths aaces to come together. the pope added, quote, our differences are not a detriment or danger, but a source of richness. in the holy land, pilgrims celebratingas morning today in the west bank town of belgt wi bethlehem. the service was heldt the church of the nativity, the traditional birth place of jesus. tourists have been returnih after a rf terrorist attacks in 2015. sis has been the busiest christmasson in bethlehem on record. well, back here in the nation's capital, president trump spent part of his day

calling the troops, thanking all five branches of the armed forces for their service across the world. and for the sacrifice ofeing away from their families today. the president made those calls from the oval office, as the government shutdown continues,e whichays it won't be over until his border wall is funded. >> i can't tell you when the government is going to be open. i can tell you it's not goi o to n until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it. i'll call it whatever they want. but it's all the same thing. >> president trump added that he wants to have the wall in place ct eion time. democrats have said that they will n provide him with additional funding. so, t shutdown could continue well into the week or longer. stay with news 4 for continuing coverage of every as tct ofs partial government shutdown. we have an article online explaining what's open and what's closed.

just search "shutdown" in the nbc washington a christmas tragedy in frederick county, maryland, after a kenneld with pets goes up in flames. take a look at these. phot crews in middletown say they got a call around 11:30 lrt night eports of a fire on marker road. when they got there, the building was completely engulfed in ames. at least four dogs and a few rabbits were killed in the fire. several oth dogs were so severely burned that they needed to be pudown. no people were hurt in this fire. two men are recovering aftes beinbbed near dupont circle. early this morning around 4:00 a.m., police found m o near connecticut avenue and 18th street. during the investigation, they learned another man had been stabbed during that same argument. bo men are expected to recover. so far, no arrests have been made. well, someone could go to sleep on this christmas night a big winner. the largest mega millions jackpot ever offered on christmas day is on tap night.

the ize, an estimated $321 million. now, since the game began in 2002, drawings havenly been held on christmas four times, have e christmas drawings not yet produced a jackpot winner. coming up tonight, serious concerns tonht for thousands of patients who visited asu ery center in new jersey. >> reporter: spreading holiday cheer to people in the hospital. i'm at the waldorf dialysis center. how these carollers are making christmas eve a little brighter. >> a exam

thousan of patients are now getting tested for hiv after possibly being exposed in new jersey. a surgery center is urging w peop had procedures over a nine-month period there to get test. apparently, there was an issue with infection control at the facility located in saddle brook, new jersey. the health department says risk s low, but the center is providing blood tests to make sure that no one hentracted hiv, titis b or c. well, jews here in the d.c. area spending the christmas oliday giving back to those in need, the jewish community center holding a day of service

in the hyatt regency in northwest waon. there were several ways families could volunteer. among the activities, making instant meal kits and creating holiday cards for emergency personnelch working on ristmas day. the jcc also held its winter blood dre. ing up, how william, harry, kate and meghan celebrat christmas. and amelia is coming back to tell us about some rain that we coulsee this week.

on this christmas day, a reminder of the sacrifice made by arican servicemen and women overseas, celebrating the holidays far from home. nbc news caught up with som soldiers in poland trying to get into the holiday spirit with a visit to a christmas market near from hot spots like ukraine to afghanistan and the korean peninsula, america's military is stationed in more than 150 countries around the world. the british royal family c celebratingistmas by attending a church service together today. een elizabeth was joined by her grandsons william and harry and their wives kate and meghan markle. meghan is expectsing the ir couple's child this spring. it's also her first christmas as part of the royal family. ticeably absent was the queen's husband, princeil ip, who is 97 years old and largelyb retired fromc life.

festive visit today at the frasinias deialysis center in waldorf, maryland. they sing to seasonal patientsec who have tove dialysis no matter the holiday.ne 4's amee cho brings the story from southern maryla. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: this christmas, for people who have to spend theys holit the clinic, these carolers want to make their lives a little brighter, even if just for a moment. aron started the group and she bnds out gifts to patients on dialysis. >>e so, whave blankets. >> reporter: she kws just what they're going through. her kidney foreed heced her to dialysis for three years. >> sometimes it's lonely bause it's you and your machine. i vowed i would come back and

helppl pin situations like mine. kidney ter: thanks to a from her sister, she was able to keep her promise. >> i used to come to thisci fality. >> did you? >> yeah. >> reporter: she spehe spent so time on dialysis it's like a rt ime job. these carolers hoping to make the job easier. >> i was surpnised. it's. really, really nice. i love it. >>o supporthe patients and let them know you're thought of. you're not in that chair by yourself. people are praying for you, rooting for you and you're ors.ly war ♪ ♪ >> reporter: and the carolers say they hope to make this a holiday tradition and d this every year for years to come. in waldorf, amee cho, news 4. >> truly a day of giving. also a day of cold and you're promising some rain. >> why change it at this point? we are the wettest year on record by far. probably dry tomorrow. but as we look to friday, another storm system is going to

likely bring around an inch or more of rain to the area. so a lot of folks getting out there and enjoying the nice dry weather today. washington harbor at the there.town waterfront you can see kiddos out there ice skating for the holiday. there ase cloudy skies well. we had generally increasing clouds throughout the day todayg now, t will clear out and that sets us up for a pleasant day tomorrow on your wednesday. raveling tomorrow, maybe you're the person that likes to get those holiday lights down as soon as christmas is over, well, the weather tomorrow cooperating. as we look to thursday nht and friday, more rain is in the forecast. and then i'm tracking two more storm systems that could bring rain on sunday and the new year's day, which is tuesday. i'm make sure to point those out on the ten-day forest. but speaking of the wettest years, 2018 going down as the wettest year on record. almost at 65 inches of rain for the year. we're going to tack at least another inch onto that before the year's end based on e latest forecast. right now, though, we're dry,

with temperatures in the 30 37 in the district. 32 in gaithersburg.39 own in fort belvoir. a lot of us tomorrow morning waking up to temperatures in the 20s.s so i going to be a chilly start out there. 33 in washington, but with plenty ofsunshine, again, we warm up nicely. 49 for a high tomorrow, so just a few degrees warmer than today. a pleasantly crisp day out there with plenty of sunshine. make sure you have thees sunglas you head out and about on your wednesday. now, thursday, check out your rain outl we do keep it dry, but clouds increase throughout the day. and byhe nighttime hours, rain will be moving into the area on thursday. but the day isoi to be dry. widespread rain in the forecast on friday. we keep it dry then on saturday. and sunday, well, yeah, i'm tracking some scattered showers out there. maybe som w snow flakes mixing in around the mason dixon line. as far as any accumulating snow, the next ten days, i am not seeing it in the forecast really anywhere in thearea. but collect it out. this is future weather. 5:00 p.m., ht at

we're dry, but cloudy across the area. check out the rain, though, moving an from the south west. it's here by about 9:00, 10:00 p.m. we continue to track rain overnight thursday into friday.i friday m you're heading nto work, 8:00 a.m., you're dealing with showers out there. rain ctinues around the midday hours. and then we do start to dry out for friday checking out your storm team 4 four dayforecast, near 50 tomorrow. near 50 on thursday. but clouds do increase throughout the day on thursday. 100% chanc of rain on friday. heavy rain could potentially lead tsu flooding . something we'll keep an eye on. friday becoming a storm team 4 weather alert day. daturday we keep it in the 50s. 40s on s with a chance of showers. new year's eve, looking dry on monday. tances for more showers in the forecast onsday. >> thank you very much. with no snow, i guess santa had tough sledding. coming up, we're staying festive with the redsnens. how member of the burgundy

and gold turns the locker room into a carolling fest.

twas the night before christmas and here at news 4, all the cookies were gone and handly w hanley was looking for more. oh, you animals. >> there was cocoa in the

kitchen. >> sweets on the set. >> chocolate treats in the chopper and all the sugar we could get. >> and storm team4 was wide awake and full of cheer because we were tracking a white haired non eight tiny reindeer. >> i k what you're thinking, why didn't we use our app? >> all the kids are following along in the dnv with o tap. >> we were tracking the squad, too. >> with the sto ranger we can pinpoint his every move. >> on twitter, facebook every platform. every hashtag working for you. >> elsewhere in the newsroom, everyone was so cheering. in fact, two familiar faces were down right dreary. >> the grinch hed christmas. the whole christmas season. now, pleaseon't ask why. no one quite knows the reason. >> it could be hisn' head w screwed on just right. it could be, perhap that his shoes were too tight. but i think the most lely

reason of all -- >> may have been that his heart wa s twoizes too small. whatever. >> tis the season of giving the time to share joy. >> helping neighbors hungry giving children in need new toys. >> traditions we sha together and hold so dear. >> why w spend holidays together year after year. >> so, before you shut your eyes -- >> and again at sun adv we. >> and tle season through. >> no that nbc4 is right here and we're working for you. ♪ ♪ >> everyone had a lot of fun doing that. and the team here a news 4 is not the only group in the holiday spirit. our sports crew sending redskins linebacker zak brown dashing kerough the l room with holiday cheer in his heart and a microphone in his hand. ♪ ♪

♪ ih you a merry christmas, we wish you a merry ristmas, we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year ♪ good timings -- see. ♪ deck the halls wit balls of holly. la la-la-la-la-la-la-laisa-la ♪ the season to be - jolly boom -- >> come over here and sing a christmas carol. you know you have to know all the verses, bro. >> i told you i'm coming. [ laughter ] >> oh, man. ♪ you better watchout, you better not cry, you better not pout, i'm telling you why

♪ santa claus is coming to town ♪ ♪ >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> our thanks to zak brown and the burgundy and gold carolers. e final note. this news note. d.j. swarn gerry releaseder yey, announced on instagram that he is signed with the arizona cardinals. georgel wallace w have more on that when we follow-up on the weather. >> we had a high temperature of 44, which is exactly normal this time of year. now, tomorrowleasantly cool with plenty of sunshine. high temperatures near 50 degrees. clouds increased throughout the day on thursd. in moves in thursday night. it is a rainy friday out there, especially for the morning, midday and afternoon hours. we do start to dry out later friday and maybe more rain sunday and again on tuesday, chris. >> thank you amelia. thanks for joining us. that'she news now.

"nightly news" is up next. we'll see you for news 4 at 11:00. good night. ♪

♪ hi, i'm barbara harrison. it's christmas. and this time of t year, nation's capitol is aglow in holiday lights like these that adn this beautiful 22-foot douglas fir in the library of congress. it's one that always makes a list of must see chrtmas trees here i washington. there's also the capitol christmas tree. it lighting always an important celebration attended by the house and senate and their families and stachlt and on the national mall not far from the white house, this one, knowns america's christmasee