Meet the Staff
Rev. Sunae Cho
Lead Pastor
Email: pastor[at]lakemerrittumc[dot]org
Sunae is Korean-American, born in Seoul, Korea, and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 15. Raised in San Jose, she always refers to it as her home. Now she is making her home in the community of Oakland with her husband, Michael.
Sunae graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Kaiser Santa Clara (1988-1997) and Valley Medical Center (1997 – 2004). After her spiritual growth caused her to realize her calling was to care for the people in a different way, she earned a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion (Graduate Theological Seminary) in Berkeley, California. Sunae was ordained as an Elder in the California – Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2014. She has served five churches in California: Bethel Korean UMC (1999-2001), New Community Mission Church (2003-2004), Korean United Methodist Church in Santa Clara Valley (2006-2013), Calvary UMC (2013-2016), and Evergreen Valley UMC (2013-2022).
Sunae has been married to Michael for thirty-three wonderful years and they have two grown children, Edward and Anthony. Eddie is a surgeon in the Fellowship program in Trauma and Critical Care at the University of Southern California. Anthony is going to school and working in San Jose. They have a wonderful furry child, Butters, an 8-year-old mix of Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, and Poodle. This creature of God brings immense joy to our family.
Her mission is to live out God’s love for all. She inspires and strengthens other’s faith as she journeys alongside others to build God’s beloved community. She welcomes all, and inspires others to live out their calling, faith in action and justice for all people. She seeks to return to God and to herself daily as she practices contemplative prayer.
Her personal mission statement is “God loves you. God is present in our lives in knowing or without knowing. So, enjoy God and others. Enjoy life.” She is passionate about touching others and restoring a healthy relationship in families through God’s grace. Sunae believes that a healthy home and healthy church can have a powerful impact in our community and on the world.
Sunae and Michael love to travel. Sunae loves a good cup of coffee, music, nature walks and reading books. Moreover, Sunae is an excellent cook, particularly with Korean dishes, and she looks forward to introducing the Lake Merritt and Lake Park family to them and her own brand of hospitality.
Jim Meredith
Music Director
Email: jimmeredith[at]mac[dot]com
Jim is a singer, pianist, organist, arranger, composer, conductor and music director born in North Carolina and studied at the university of North Carolina and Tulane University.
His musical abilities have seen him working in many international countries as a soloist, accompanist and conductor and he has appeared in the United States leading ensembles such as the Oakland Symphony Chorus and the Sonos Handbell Ensemble.
As the founding music director of the Sonos Handbell Ensemble he has made several successful recordings and given numerous concerts. In the world of education he has taught masterclasses at several colleges and universities, and he has also been on the faculty of Merritt College. As a composer he has written the work “Kodo Triptych” for percussion, handbells and hand chimes and as an arranger his work has been heard the world over. Before becoming the Music Director at Lake Merritt UMC, Jim was Music Director for Lake Park UMC. We are so blessed to have such a gifted musician leading our Lake Merritt choir and supporting our worship services with his diverse talents.
Lulu Sapigao
Church Administrator and Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director
Email: office[at]lakemerrittumc[dot]org
Lulu (she/siya) is a lifelong United Methodist with a passion for empowering young people, both inside and outside the church. With extensive experience in education, nonprofits, ministry, and coaching, she is dedicated to fostering growth, connection, and leadership in others. As a leader in UMC, Lulu serves in various leadership roles across the denomination, always seeking to amplify voices and create spaces for healing and empowerment.
Lulu serves as the Co-Chair of the Bay Area Associate Board for Covenant House California (CHC), a youth shelter supporting homeless youth ages 18-24. Her work with CHC aligns with her deep love for supporting marginalized communities and advocating for youth.
Having lived in California, Oregon, and Washington, Lulu now lives on a farm in the East Bay. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, yoga, tie-dying, and playing mahjong. Her commitment to lifelong learning and community-building extends to her new role as Church Administrator and the church’s first Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director. She is excited to bring her leadership, creativity, and vision to these positions, working to build a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for the next generation.