I haven't used Provider for Google Calendar for some years, and more recently I have read that Google are discontinuing the data feed that makes it work. A simpler and, in my experience, more reliable method is to use a CalDAV connection. The post here explains how: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1097284 There's a page here with screenshots to walk you through it: http://www.technorms.com/7955/sync-google-yahoo-windows-live-calendars-thunderbirds-lightning

Thanks for the response, but time has passed these links by. The screenshots on the technorms page are no longer accurate (at least not for the versions of the software I am using and noted), and no longer work as described. I would post images of the new screens, but I am wondering if someone has already formulated a solution. I am beginning to suspect that it is no longer easy to sync Lightning and Google Calendar, and that the ultimate solution may be to simply use Google Calendar and give up on syncing. Don't like it, because it would be nice to open T'bird and have my mail and my calendar right there, but it's an imperfect world.

I have since discovered the following phenomenon: I can create an event in Google Calendar, and Lightning picks it up. If I then delete that event in Lightning, it is deleted in Google Calendar. But Google Calendar does not populate with old or new events made directly in Lightning. Help.

The Sunbird solution, as described in a support article, is obviously outdated.

Sunbird is dead.

I have T'bird 38.7.2. Lightning 4.7.0.2.

There is no Lightning 4.7.0.2. The latest version bundled with Thunderbird 38.7.2 is Lightning 4.0.7.2.

Events created in Lightning do not populate to Google Calendar.

Make sure your Google Calendar is not write-protected.

time has passed these links by.

See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-lightning-google-calendar

The article is a little bit outdated. Skip over section 'Getting an XML link to your calendar'. When setting up the Google Calendar you'll get prompted for your Google password. Also you'll need to grant Lightning access to your Google Calendar.

I am beginning to suspect that it is no longer easy to sync Lightning and Google Calendar,

It works just fine here with CalDAV. It is supposed to work with the provider extension as well.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Sorry for the transposition of digits. Don't think it's a matter of write-protecting a Google Calendar. Lightning would be the source of a distinct calendar in Google Calendar, and the only question would be whether one chose to display it. I think Lightning has access to my main calendar in Google Calendar, because I can delete events in Lightning that were created in Google Calendar from Lightning. When I follow the directions in the support article, I do as the relevant portion suggests. Doesn't work.

"[B]ecause I can delete events in Lightning that were created in Google Calendar from Lightning." What I meant to say is that when I delete an event created in my main Google Calendar from within Lightning, it is deleted in the Google Calendar.

Shughes said

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Sorry for the transposition of digits. Don't think it's a matter of write-protecting a Google Calendar. Lightning would be the source of a distinct calendar in Google Calendar, and the only question would be whether one chose to display it. I think Lightning has access to my main calendar in Google Calendar, because I can delete events in Lightning that were created in Google Calendar from Lightning. When I follow the directions in the support article, I do as the relevant portion suggests. Doesn't work.

Now that is a collection of assumptions. Mostly wrong. But that is what I have been reading all the way through this thread.

Lets start with

The screenshots on the technorms page are no longer accurate (at least not for the versions of the software I am using and noted), and no longer work as described.

The only real change I see there is the absence of the file menu, right at the beginning. Press F10 to correct that minor change.

Lightning would be the source of a distinct calendar in Google Calendar,

Not so. Your Goole calendar will be shown in the list of calendars in Lightnings calendar pane. In gmail all you will see is your original calendar.

the only question would be whether one chose to display it.

Not so. As the Google calendar and the google calendar in Lightning at Synchronized there is no option to display anything other that you see your Google calendar on the Google web site. It is not going to appear there as a "Lightning" calendar.

Right at the beginning of this thread amanchesterman told you to use caldav instead of the calendar provider. That was good advice. I suggest you go back and look at it again.

Also go to the calendar list in the calendar tab. There you will see more than one calendar. Only events and actions added to the Google calendar there will be synchronized. Make sure it has it's own distinctive color. So you know exactly what is and is not synchronized to your google calendar.